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208   towards me—well, Nature spoke to us, and that is all. Afterwards it seems that he grew afraid of the vengeance of Rassen, or this Holly, whom I would that the hounds had torn bone from bone, grew afraid. So they strove to escape the land, and perchance wandered to thy Mountain. But I weary of this talk, and ask thy leave to rest before to-morrow's rite.

Thou sayest, Atene, said the Hesea, that Nature spoke to this man and to thee, and that his heart is thine; but that, fearing thy lord's vengeance, he fled from thee, he who seems no coward. Tell me, then, is that tress he hides in the satchel on his breast thy gage of love to him?

I know nothing of what he hides in the satchel, answered the Khania sullenly.

And yet, yonder in the Gatehouse when he lay so sick he set the lock against thine own—ah, dost remember now?

So, O Hes, already he has told thee all our secrets, though they be such as most men hide within their breasts; and she looked contemptuously at Leo.

I told her nothing of the matter, Khania, Leo said in an angry voice.

Nay, thou toldest me nothing; Wanderer my watching wisdom told me. Oh, didst thou think, Atene, that thou couldst hide the truth from the all-seeing Hesea of the Mountain? If so, spare thy breath, for I know all, and have known it from the first. I passed thy disobedience by; of thy false messages I took no heed. For my own purposes I, to whom time is naught, suffered even that thou shouldst hold these, my guests, thy prisoners whilst thou didst strive by threats and force to win a love denied.

She paused, then went on coldly: Woman, I tell thee that, to complete thy sin, thou hast even dared to lie to me here, in my very Sanctuary.

If so, what of it? was the bold answer. Dost thou