'MASHI!''Try to sleep, Jotin, it is getting late.''Never mind if it is. I have not many days left. I was thinking that Mani should go to herfather's house.-I forget where he is now.''Sitarampur.''Oh yes! Sitarampur. Send her there. She should not remain any longer near a sick man.She herself is not strong.''Just listen to him! How can she bear to leave you in this state?''Does she know what the doctors--?''But she can see for herself! The other day she cried her eyes out at the merest hint ofhaving to go to her father's house.'We must explain that in this statement there was a slight distortion of truth, to say theleast of it. The actual talk with Mani was as follows: -'I suppose, my child, you have got some news from your father? I thought I saw yourcousin Anath here.''Yes! Next Friday will be my little sister's annaprashan[2] ceremony. So I'm thinking--''All right, my dear. Send her a gold necklace. It will please your mother.''I'm thinking of going myself. I've never seen my little sister, and I want to ever somuch.''Whatever do you mean? You surely don't think of leaving Jotin alone? Haven't youheard what the doctor says about him?''But he said that just now there's no special cause for--''Even if he did, you can see his state.