"The day before the new moon! Not a lucky day to be travelling south," remarked Gunga, with a troubled expression upon her face. "If my husband remembers to go out of the house in which he is staying by a north door, the bad luck may be averted."
"He will surely think of it," observed the disciple, whose life was occupied in the consideration of omens.
"In the joy of meeting his son it is quite possible that it may be forgotten. I know that my lord will be nearly beside himself with delight at seeing his boy again, his only child!" she added softly, with a tenderness that she rarely exhibited.
That same afternoon a second telegram was received. It said "Disperse guests. Discontinue preparations for feasting and rejoicing."
Gunga listened speechless as her brother-in-law read it aloud.
"Again," she commanded.
He read it a second and a third time.
"Is there nothing about illness? Is no reason given for these strange orders?"
"None, most honourable mother of my brother's family."
"Call his excellency, the swami."