"No, excellent mother, not yet. My brother will tell me this evening when he comes back."
"He is coming here?"
"To take me home. I hope he will be in before it is dark. I should not like to stay in this ugly little room at night. This was the place where they beat Ananda. The market women say that he was nearly killed; and that his new God must have come Himself and carried him away; he was hurt so that he could not stand. Ah, bah, that Sooba Iyer is a bad man, the market women say! I love listening to the market news. When I am strong and big I shall ask them to let me go as a coolie to carry one of the baskets. Then I shall hear of all the deaths and weddings and births and beatings and accidents and scoldings and widowings."
"Go on with your play, child. I will see your brother when he comes for you," said Gunga.
Mayita had another hour to wait before she heard his call. As she came out of the yard she caught sight of the tall stern woman going across the compound to meet him. She stopped at the entrance till the interview was over, the timidity of the widow and her fear of giving offence holding her back.
"I want to ask you if you know anything of my son," said Gunga going straight to the point.
"He is staying with Mr. Alderbury, the English missionary."
"And his wife?"
"She has joined him with my assistance. After all that has happened I felt that I must lend her the help of a friend, whether I gave offence to your honourable husband or not."
"It will not be regarded as an offence. Why did they leave home in this secret manner?"