CHAPTER XXIII.
THE SEARCH.
It is needless to say that when the news of Surja Mukhi's flight had spread through the house, people were sent in great haste in search of her.

Nagendra sent people in all directions, Srish Chandra sent, and Kamal Mani sent.

The upper servants among the women threw down their water-jars and started off; the Hindustani _Durwans_ of the North-West Provinces, carrying bamboo staves, wearing cotton-quilted chintz coats, clattered along in shoes of undressed leather; the _khansamahs_, with towel on the shoulder and silver chain round the waist, went in search of the mistress.

Some relatives drove in carriages along the public roads.

The villagers searched the fields and _ghats_; some sat smoking in council under a tree; some went to the _barowari puja_ house, to the verandah of Siva's temple, and to the schools of the professors of logic, and in other similar places sat and discussed the matter.