Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 2).djvu/188

 'You must be tired,' he said, with sudden perception of his own selfishness. 'Go and rest, my dear; pray go. I can wait very well for the broth until morning.'

'Oh no. You shall have it as soon as the fire will stew it. I am not greatly tired. You know I am made of strong stuff, and I rested in the boats.'

He did not urge her more.

As she sat by the fire she took some of her oaten bread, and some water, and made her supper of them, sitting beside the burning wood that sent out resinous odours as it burned.

'I ought to tell you why I am accused of this crime and condemned for it,' he said abruptly, after long silence. 'You ought to know—you who do so much for me on trust. You have a right to hear why they hunt me down as a murderer.'

'Do not tell it if it hurt you,' said Musa, as he paused. She saw that he shrank from telling the tale; and the temptation that was too strong for Psyche had never assailed her yet.

'Yes; you have a right to know. After all, it was ruin to me, but it is not much of a story; a tale-teller with his guitar on a