Chapter 60 Contd after : "Artabhaga was amazed by the contrast between the excitement of the throngs people who had gathered around Yajnyawalkya outside the inner courtyard and the silence prevailing inside the home. But somehow, he found the silence soothing and peaceful.

Chapter 60 contd.

After the meals were over Katyayani called the son in. He came in shyly and stood partly revealing his presence to his eager father. Yajnyawalkya got up and pulled him from behind his mother. For a moment, they both stood looking at each other; then Yajnyawalkya held the boy close to his bosom and exclaimed, "My boy, how well your two mothers have brought you up! I am glad to see you!"
The boy snuggled close to him to feel the warmth of his body.
Artabhaga looked around to see some sign or token of Maitreyi's presence, but only silence seemed to greet him. He looked at Yajnyawalkya who looked totally absorbed by his son's presence, so near him and so far away. There was nothing Artabhaga could do except wait for Maitreyi to reveal herself.
Katyayani wished Maitreyi was there too, to share this moment of union of father with his son. Yajnyawalkya turned from his son to Katyayani.
There was mute silence. Katyayani averted her face to hide her feelings. She turned and looked at him again. She could read the question in his eyes, but was enraged because he would not ask it."
"say it." she said to herself: "Why can't you ask me plainly--'Where is Maitryi?'"
Yajnyawalkya looked at his son again who was listening to the mute convesation between his mother and father. To lighten the atmosphere for his son, Yajnyawalkya said, "It's time for you to receive initiation into Gayatri mantra."
The boy said,"I know Gayatri mantra."
"Indeed? Do you? Who taught it to you?"
The boy turned to Katyayani to see if she approved of his speaking about Gayatri mantra. Katyayani said, "Maiteyi taught him".
Unconsciously, Yajnyawalkya looked around. Then turning to his son, he said, "I'll tell you stories of Gayatri then."
His son's eyes brightened at the word "stories".
"Can you tell stories?" he asked.
Yajnyawalkya laughed heartily. "Yes! I am a good story-teller, though I can't make up stories!"
He looked at Katyayani as he said this. Katyayani was helpless with suppressed anger because she could not rebuff. Artabhaga looked on in amusement.
The boy was eager to have Yajnyawalkya all to himself. The temptation of the story was irresistible. He said, "I'll gather all my friends then; they are also fond of stories. You just wait while I come back."
Then with an afterthought, he turned to Artabhaga, thinking that it was his duty to include him in all his games, and said, "Why don't you join me uncle? Let's go out and meet my friends."
"Why not?" said Artabhaga obligingly. "Last  time I came to know only your pony and cows!"
He followed the boy readily, leaving Yajnyawalkya behind.

A small note: Katyayani and Maitreyi are both married to Yajnyawalkya. Katyayani is the senior of the two. Katyayani is the mother of the boy and Maitreyi the stepmother. The relations among all three of them are natural and cordial.