of us!' and one was a boy who looked like you. The old man
kept saying how like it was to the new Lord Thryng, and it made me cold
to hear it,--so cold that after I had escaped from there and was out in
the sun, my teeth chattered."

David sat silent and humbled; at last he said: "Go on, Cassandra. Don't
cover up anything."

"When I got back to the hotel, everything seemed so splendid and stuffy
and horrid--and every way I turned it seemed as if those dead ancestors
of yours were there staring at me still; and I thought what right had
they over the living that they dared stand between you and me; and I was
angry." She stirred in his arms, and pressed closer to him.
"David--forgive me--I can't tell it over--it hurts me."

"Go on," he said hoarsely.

"The old man told me what was expected of you because of them--how your
mother wished you to marry a great lady--and I knew they could never
have heard of me--and I forgot to eat my dinner and stayed in my room
and fought and fought with myself--I'm sorry I felt that way, David.
Don't mind. I understand now." She put up her hand and touched his
cheek, and he took it in his and kissed it. Then she laughed a sad
little laugh.

"Remember that funny little old silver teapot. Mother brought it to me
before I left, and I took it with me! She is so proud of our family,
although she has only that poor little pot to show for it, with its nose
all melted off to make silver bullets sure to kill. Did you know it was
one of those bullets Frale tried to kill you with? Oh, David, David!"

"And yet your mother is right, dear. That little wrecked bit of silver
helps to interpret you--indicates your ancestors--how you come to be
you--just as you are. How could I ever have loved you, if you had been
different from what you are?"

For a long moment she lay still--scarcely breathing--then she lifted her
head and looked in his eyes. One of her silences was on her, and while
her lips trembled as if to speak, she said no word. He tried to draw her
to him again, but she held him off.

"Then tell me what it is," he said gently. But she only shook her head
and rose to walk away from him. He did not try to call her back to him,
respecting her silence, and she moved on up the path with long, swift
steps.

When she returned, he held out his arms to her, but she stood before him
looking down into his eyes, "I couldn't tell you sitting there with
your arms around me, David, and what I have to sa