Page:Richard Marsh--The joss, a reversion.djvu/135

Rh some of the heaviness from my eyelids. I did not know what to reply. My hesitation did not please her. A sudden gleam came into her eyes; as if the wild creature which inhabited them had all at once come to the front.

“Why do you not answer? I am used to being answered. Are many Englishwomen as beautiful as you?”

“They are much more beautiful. I am not beautiful at all”

“You are beautiful. You are a liar.”

The plain directness of her speech brought the blood into my cheeks. She marked my change of colour, as if surprised.

“How do you do that?”

“Do what?”

My tone was meek as meek could be.

“You have gone red.” I went still redder. “How do you do it? Is it a trick? It becomes you very well; it makes you still more beautiful. Is it the blood shining through your skin? You are so white, the least thing shows. To be white I would give all that I am, all that I have.”

She uttered the last words with a simple earnestness which, if she had only known it, became her much more than my blush did me. I ventured on an inquiry.

“Who are you?”

She knelt straight up. There came to her an air of dignity which lent to her a weird and thrilling fascination.

“I am she who inhabits the inner sanctuary of the temple; to whom all men and women bring their supplications, that I may lay them at the feet of the Most High Joss.”

I had not the faintest notion what she meant; but her words and manner impressed me none the less on that account. Which fact she observing was good