The Keepers of the People

854“My lips,” he said, kissing them.

855“Your lips,” she murmured.

856“My body,” he said, kissing her between the breasts.

857“Your body,” she murmured, and slipping a little keen knife from the folds of her dress, she held it before his eyes. And then holding herself away from him, and gazing at him with her fierce eyes, she said wistfully, “But not my lips nor my body.”

858He was silent.

859She laid her face against his breast with a little sob.

860He was thoughtful a while, pondering; then he said, “But the time is not yet.”

861“No,” she said: “I know it. The time is not yet.”

862“When the horn of the tenth moon shines over the mountain of Indra, I shall come — with gold for your kinsfolk.”

863“I shall be here,” she said.

864He set her on her feet; drew the great signet ring from his finger, and gave it to her.

865She moved down the path on slow feet, turned at the bend, and her eyes met his; in them he saw the first gleam of a passionate impatience.

866He made his way back to the camp slowly, very thoughtful; and coming to his wife’s tent, found her sleeping. He gazed down into her face; a smile of doubtful fondness passed over his own; and he knew that the touch of the yellow girl’s lips had broken the spell of the West.

867“Agnes,” he said gently, “the sun is low, and we must eat, and climb the pass. The way is toilsome.”

868She smiled at him through half-closed eyes, and murmured, “No way is toilsome with you.”

869As they were eating, she said suddenly, “Have you lost your ring, Ralph?”

870“No,” said Prince Ralph.

871The path through the pass was indeed toilsome and dark, for the moon was not yet risen. All the way, hour after hour, their horses walked; at no point was a faster pace possible. On their heels came six mutes, bearing a cedar chest some five feet long, and they bore it with great care, for Prince Ralph had it always under his eye. The Princess Agnes had now and again wondered what it might hold; for every night when they encamped, it had been carried to his tent, and when they rested during the heat of the day he had been careful to have it laid in the shade, or covered with an awning. But she never asked him, thinking that she would in due season learn; and indeed, she was already chary of asking him questions.