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 vigilance and sacrifice would be unavailing to shelter him?

'But Joconda would have bade you think,' he urged to her. 'She herself thought for you or she would not have written to us. I know that the life you have made for yourself, all alone as you have been, is full of courage and strength, and has much nobility of purpose and of independence in it; and I can understand that it seems more delightful to you than any other, because of your wise love of the open air and the beasts and the birds. But, dear, it is winter even here; and if sickness should overtake you your solitude would become very terrible. I want you to think a little of that. You have no friends, you have no home, you have no one to look to in any need; and there are many dangers for a creature that is as beautiful as you are when she is so near womanhood.'

He paused, not knowing well how to put his meaning into words that her pride would hear patiently or her innocence understand.

'I have no one who has a right to say a word to me,' said Musa, angrily. 'If