ind the heavy fringe of
lashes, and her hands to cease their nervous plucking at her dress.

She lifted her eyes to the strangely-painted tent side, looked at the
silvery spear and tilted her head back until her throat gleamed like an
ivory pillar, to look up at the ceiling with the painted vultures--the
emblem of maternity.

The man looked up, then looked down upon this woman of his mother's race
whom he loved, and longed with all the intense passion of his father's
race that he might see his first-born upon her breast.

She was trying to find words, and they came to her when she clasped her
hands upon the jewelled brooch in the shape of the Hawk of Egypt.

She looked at him suddenly and a little shiver swept her at the strange
beauty of this silent man; and he as suddenly turned his hands palm
upwards in an uncontrollable gesture of Eastern prayer to Fate who had so
much to give him, or, perhaps, so little!

"You said you--you would help me if--I came to you--in trouble." She
tripped and stumbled over the words. "I have come to--to------"

"Ask my help."

The words were as cold as stones dropped in the beggar's hand, but
Damaris leant back quickly when she looked into the man's eyes and saw in
them the reflection of the fire she had kindled.

"What is the help you need of me? I know nothing of the ways of women,
but I do know that it has been the storm which has swept you from your
safe harbour out towards a shore upon which are piled the wrecks of many
souls."

She twisted the brooch between her fingers.

"My wedding gift," said Hugh Carden Ali softly, then watched the crimson
dye the white neck and surge across her face. "You come--to--_me_--for
help." He repeated the words slowly. "Then you, of course, are--are
free--ah!" He leant forward and caught her hands. "You have run
away--from what? No, do not speak, I can read your answer in your face.
You have been hurt." He lifted the little ringless left hand, then
pressed it against the other between his own, whilst a great light flamed
in his eyes. "You have come to me, and there is but one meaning for me
in that you have come to _me_. Is it------" His voice dropped to the
softest whisper as he crushed her hands down upon the wooden couch so
that she swayed towards him. "Is it that I may fasten my own wedding
gift into the bridal robe of the woman I love and will take to wife--_is_
it?"

Damaris bowed her head so that the curls danced and gl