ard her. The time had come to crown his schemes of high
ambition, and the gods had thrown opportunity in his way.

"Was it for me you waited?" he asked boldly. He was prepared for
indignation, repulsion, anything except what followed. She dropped her
eyes, leaning a trifle away from him.

"And--if it were?" she murmured. He stared an instant, and seized his
chance.

"I should thank the gods and you, sweet one, and do my best to show
appreciation," he said; and sat down on the couch beside her.

"But it was not!" she cried hastily, and moved farther away. In spite of
himself Marius's lips twitched to a smile. As she retreated, he
advanced.

"No? But it was I who came!" he said, his keen eyes on her. But her look
did not falter. "You waited because the gods willed that I should come
to you," he said, speaking rapidly, since she showed signs of
nervousness. "And I have come, to plead my love, and to ask yours in
return. Once before were we interrupted when I tried to speak; now the
chance is mine at last. You shall anoint my door with wolf's fat and
rule at my hearth as wife. Your father wishes it--he would be glad to
see our love blossom into flower. Say, wilt thou love me, sweet?"

But Varia sprang to her feet, clasping her hands over her ears.

"Love--love!" she cried fretfully. "Nay, I have had enough of love!"

Marius laughed aloud.

"So, thou strange beauty? Maybe, but I have not. And I think there is
still something left for thee to learn. Dost remember a game I was to
teach thee once--a game which two can play?"

She interrupted him, standing poised as though for flight, her head on
one side, a smile touching her crimson lips, her veiled eyes glancing
sidewise into his.

"Nay--I remember?" she said with a rippling laugh. "Why now, how should
I remember, my lord? Am I not a fool?"

His glance was somewhat taken aback.

"Fool or not, I love thee, pretty witch, and thou shalt be my wife."

She shook her head, and the laughter died from her face, leaving it
startled.

"Thy wife? Wife to thee? Oh, no! I cannot be that!"

"Oh, yes! Thou canst and must and shalt be that! I'll not let thee go so
lightly!" He advanced upon her, but she stretched out a white naked arm
to full length, a finger pointing at him, and he stopped. Just why, he
did not pause to think.

"Nay, my lord!" she said, and her voice took on the haunting tones
which had so perplexed her father. "That I am not as other girls I know
righ