He looked at her enquiringly.
"Do you not know me, Ramdass ?" she asked.
"Why, 'tis Soyera!" he exclaimed.

"And so you have come back, after all these years--thirteen, is it not, since you went away?
"Welcome back, little sister!" and he raised his voice, and called, "Anundee!" A young woman, two or three and twenty years of age, came to the door.
"Wife," he said, "this is my sister Soyera, of whom you have often heard me speak.
"Soyera, this is my wife.

We have been married six years; but come in, and let us talk things over.
"You have come home for good, I hope," he said.

"So you too have married and, as you come alone with your child, have, I suppose, had the misfortune to lose your husband ?" "Yes, I was alone in the world, and came hither not knowing whether you were alive or dead; but feeling sure of a welcome, if I found you." "And you were not mistaken," he said heartily.
"Anundee, you will, I am sure, join me in the welcome; and willingly give my sister and her child a place in our home ?" "Assuredly.

It will be pleasant for me, when you are in the fields, to have some one to talk to, and perhaps to help me about the house." Soyera saw that she was speaking sincerely.
"Thank you, Anundee; you may be sure that I shall not be idle.