The Keepers of the People

1474Then one night he came back from a five days’ hunt to find them already at dinner; and when he entered the great hall, Vashti, who had not looked for the sight of him so soon, greeted him with flushed face and shining eyes. He saw it; and when the old Prince had tired of talking with him, and gone to rest, he waylaid her in the corridor, as she was on her way to her own rooms, and said gently, “Come into the garden with me, while I smoke a last cigar.”

1475She nodded her head without looking at him; and they went out slowly and in silence to a broad marble seat which the careless maids had left spread with cushions, near the end of the garden. She sat down with a little sigh, and leaning back, her bare white arms hanging listlessly at her sides, looked at him with troubled eyes. It seemed enough for him to sit silent, admiring her: the moonlight fell full on her face; once and again she moved restlessly under his gaze; once and again her troubled eyes met his, and shrank away.

1476Then he said, “Are you glad to see me again?”

1477She waved her hand indifferently; and he was vexed. He had been thinking and dreaming of her in the forest solitude until he had hurried back to the palace, leaving unharmed a tiger which his huntsmen had at last tracked down for him. He had expected an impatience in her equal with his own.

1478“These days have been very, very long days,” he said.

1479Vashti’s face set indifferent; and he felt sorrowful and aggrieved. He had thought her a warmer creature.

1480“Were they not long to you?” he said, and his voice was wistful.

1481Vashti turned her eyes on him swiftly; turned them away; and shook her head.

1482Lord Lisdor sighed, and was silent a while. Then, with a swift movement he gripped her left wrist.

1483Vashti jerked a strange little cry from her throat, and struggled fiercely to free it, her eyes gleaming with a troubled anger.

1484Lord Lisdor tightened his grip, drawing gently the arm up to his lips. Vashti shook her head violently; and strove to push him away. But he pressed his lips to the warm arm; felt her shudder to their touch; and cried, “Vashti, I adore you! All these long hours I have been away from you, my heart has been burning for you!”