r
country lies in your hand.'

"'Father,' I said, 'tell me, who was ever dear to you that lack sons, is
there no escape? Must I eat this bitter bread? Before you answer, learn
that you have guessed aright, and that I who, when I made that promise,
cared for no man, have come to feel the burning of love's fire!'

"Now he looked at me awhile, then said: 'Child of the Moon, there is but
one escape, and it must be sought--in the moon. The dead cannot be given
in marriage. If your strait is so sore, though it would cut me to
the heart, perchance it is better that you should die and go whither
doubtless he whom you love will soon follow you. Depart now and counsel
with Heaven in your sleep. To-morrow, before Upanqui comes, we will talk
again.'

"So I knelt and kissed the hand of the King, my father, and left him,
wondering at his nobleness who could show such a road to his only child,
though its treading would mean woe to him and mayhap the ruin of his
hopes. Still that road is an old one among the women of my people, and
why should I not walk it, as thousands have done before me?"

"How came you here?" I asked hoarsely.

"Lord, I guessed that you would be walking in this garden which joins on
to that of the palace, and--none were about, and--the door in the
wall was open. Indeed, it was almost as though I were left alone and
unwatched of set purpose. So I came and sought--and found, having a
question to put to you."

"What question, Quilla?"

"This: Shall I live or shall I die? Speak the word and I obey. Yet ere
you speak, remember that if I live we meet for the last time, since very
soon I go hence to become the wife of Urco and play the part that is
prepared for me?"

Now when I, Hubert, heard these words, I felt as though my heart would
burst within my breast and knew not what to say. So to gain time I asked
her:

"Which do you desire--to live or to die?"

She laughed a little as she answered:

"That is a strange question, Lord. Have I not told you that if I live
I must do so befouled as one of Urco's women, whereas, if I die, I die
clean and take my love with me to where Urco cannot come, but where,
mayhap, another may follow at the appointed time."

"Which time would be very soon, I think, Quilla, seeing that he who had
spoiled all this pretty plot would scarcely be left long upon the earth,
even if he wished to stay there. Yet I say: Do not die--live on."

"To become Urco's woman! That is strange couns