The  slow  progress  of  the  cart  gave  the  occu
pants  an  opportunity  for  conversation,  and  Hilda
opened  it  by  saying,  "  Ruthamma,  who  is  Devad
asi?"

"  You  have  never  seen  her,  Missyamma,  al
though  she  lives  in  a,  house  where  we  often  visit.
Do  you  remember  a  house  at  the  corner  of  the
Cloth  Bazaar  where  a  woman  and  her  two  daugh
ters-in-law  live  ?  "

"  Yes,  it  is  a  very  clean  little  place,  and  we  are
always  invited  to  sit  in  a  little  front  apartment
opening  on  to  the  road."

"  Yes,  yes,  that  is  the  place.  How  well  Missy
amma  remembers.  Well  Devadasi  lives  there."

"  Why  have  I  never  seen  her  before  ?    Who  is


The  Dipavali


237


she  ?  "  Hilda  saw  hesitation  plainly  stamped  on
Ruth's  face,  and  so  she  turned  enquiring  eyes  on
Mary  who  in  her  turn  admonished  Ruth  to  tell
the  Missyamma  all  about  Devadasi.
