“Hast thou any money?”
Girunda untied a rag, and proudly displayed his precious four-anna bit. He had never possessed such a sum in his life.
“It may maintain thee for two or three days,” said the woman dubiously.
“What work is thy father doing in Shahjhanpur?”
“Some one said he was making matting,” rejoined the boy, simply. “He is in jail.”
“In jail! Oh, ye fathers!”
“Yea; he went three months ago.”
“And what hath he done?—murder—robbery?”
“He hath done naught. They just took him.”
“But surely he must have robbed or plundered?”