Page:Madame Butterfly; Purple eyes; A gentleman of Japan and a lady; Kito; Glory (1904).djvu/199

 Kito received the arms and swore the oath. There was nothing else to do. But as to the other, Madzuri died before it could be accomplished. When they were alone he, nevertheless, laid his hands at the feet of Owannon, and his head upon them, and asked:

"Will you have me for your brother or your husband?"

Owannon looked vastly frightened at first, then, covering her face from him, whispered:

"I will have you for my—brother."

She hesitated just an instant before the last word.

Kito did not move.

"Is that not—best? " she asked, trembling.

Then Kito knew her heart and looked up. There was tenderness infinite in his eyes.

"That is best," he said, "which you desire."

There was a long silence between them.

"I desire that you shall be my" But she hesitated a long while now. "Yes, I desire that you shall be my—my—brother."

"Your brother," repeated Kito, with his new smile, and he took her beautiful hands.