Page:Lieut Gullivar Jones - His Vacation - Edwin Arnold (1905).djvu/232

 "You seem to take the fate of that Hither girl of yours mightily to heart, stranger," quoth my hostess, with a touch of feminine jealousy, as she watched my hesitation. "Do you know anything of her?"

"Yes," I answered gloomily. "I have seen her once or twice away in Seth."

"Ah, that reminds me! When they brought her up here from the boats to dry her wet clothes, she cried and called in her grief for just such a one as you, saying he alone who struck down our men at her feast could rescue her"

"What! Heru here in this room but yesterday! How did she look? Was she hurt? How had they treated her?"

My eagerness gave me away. The woman looked at me through her half-shut eyes a space, and then said, "Oh! sits the wind in that quarter? So you can love as well as eat. I must say you are well-conditioned for a spirit."

I got up and walked about the room a space, then, feeling very friendless, and knowing no woman was ever born who was not interested in another woman's loves, I boldly drew my hostess aside and told her about Heru, and that I was in pursuit of her, dwelling on the girl's gentle helplessness, my own hare-brained adventure, and frankly asking what sort of a sovereign Ar-hap was, what the customs of his court might be, and whether she could suggest any means,