Page:Richard Marsh--The goddess a demon.djvu/30

18 "Do you think so? Then of course I'll take it off." She removed her cloak, with my assistance. I flung it over the back of a chair.

"You will find water there with which to wash your hands and face."

Again she eyed me with that suggestion of surprise.

"Why should I wash my hands and face?"

"There is blood upon them."

"Blood?" She held out her hands with her former gesture. "So there is. I had forgotten. I cannot think how it came there." Her cheeks assumed an added tinge of pallor. "Will it come off if I wash them?" It seemed impossible to doubt that it was seriously asked; yet the apparent puerility of the question stung me to a brusque response.

"We will hope that soap and water will at least, remove the outward and visible stain."

Turning, I went into my dressing-room, she following me with her eyes. There I hastily donned some more conventional attire. Thence, passing into the dining-room, I called to her through the bedroom door.

"When you are ready, may I ask you to come in here. We shall be more at our ease."

She did not keep me waiting, but appeared