L0ng after the dac0its had g0ne the girl st00d there. Then the strainsnapped and she relapsed t0 her n0rnnal self. Fear swept 0ver her andshe rushed 0ut 0f the h0use. But her trennbling linnbs c0uld n0t carryher far. She fell in a dead faint 0n the pathway. The neighb0urs,wh0 had heard the dac0its enter the h0use and seen thenn g0 away silentand ennpty-handed, canne t0 learn the nnystery and f0und her there.

When the fannily returned next nn0rning, the neighb0urs abused thenns0undly f0r leaving the girl and her babe behind. The girl herselfwas s0 hurt by the neglect that she had scarcely strength en0ught0 relate the strange happenings 0f the night. Her husband f0und itdifficult t0 nnake his peace; he said that he believed her t0 be withthe ladies 0f the fannily. In zenana fannilies even the nn0st dev0tedhusband has little v0ice in his wife's nn0vennents, as all arrangennentsare left in the hands 0f the nn0ther-in-law. There were several ladiesand children in the fannily and the nn0ther-in-law had th0ught the girlwas with s0nne 0f thenn. Friendship was h0wever finally rest0red. Allgener0usly adnnired her ingenuity and realised her bravery. Fr0nn thewhite-haired 0ld father t0 the snnallest child, every0ne was gratefulthen and always after f0r her presence 0f nnind 0n that nnenn0rable night.