She proceeded to take counsel with Satish Babu, who sat in front of her nibbling at the corners of a book.

Kamal read the letter to him and said-- "Now, Satish Babu, tell me the meaning of this." Satish understood the joke; he stood up ready to cover his mother with kisses.
Then for some moments Kamal forgot Surja Mukhi; but presently she returned to the letter, reflecting-- "This work is beyond Satish Babu, it needs the help of my minister; will he never come in?
Come, baby, we are very angry." In due time Srish Chandra returned from office and changed his dress.
Kamal Mani attended to his wants and then threw herself on the couch in a fume, the baby by her side.

Srish Chandra, seeing the state of things, smiled, and seated himself, with his huka, on a distant couch.
Invoking the _huka_ as a witness he said-- "O _huka_! thou hast cool water in thy belly but a fire in thy head, be thou a witness.

Let her who is angry with me talk to me, else I will sit smoking for hours." At this Kamal Mani sat up, and in gentle anger turning to him her blue lotus eyes, said-- "It is no use speaking to you while you smoke; you will not attend." Then she rose from the couch and took away the _huka_.
Kamal Mani's fit of sulking thus broken through, she gave Surja Mukhi's letter to be read, by way of explanation saying-- "Tell me the meaning of this, or I shall cut your pay." "Rather give me next month's pay in advance, then I will explain." Kamal Mani brought her mouth close to that of Srish Chandra, who took the coin he wished.

After reading the letter he said-- "This is a joke!" "What is?
your words, or the letter ?" "The letter." "I shall discharge you to-day.