aven."

"And on earth which lies between the two, should those who love escape
death and separation?"

"Well, on earth--in marriage."

She looked at me again and this time a new light shone in her eyes which
I could not misinterpret.

"Do you mean that you will marry me, Quilla?" I muttered.

"Such was my father's wish, Lord, but what is yours? Oh! have done," she
went on in a changed voice. "For what have we suffered all these things
and gone through such long partings and dangers so dreadful? Was it not
that if Fate should spare us we might come together at last? And has not
Fate spared us--for a while? What said the prophecy of me in the Temple
of Rimac? Was it not that the Sun should be my refuge and--I forget the
rest."

"I remember it," I said. "That in the beloved arms you should sleep at
last."

"Yes," she went on, the blood mounting to her cheeks, "that in the
beloved arms I should sleep at last. So, the first part of the prophecy
has come true."

"As the rest shall come true," I broke in, awaking, and swept her to my
breast.

"Are you sure," she murmured presently, "that you love me, a woman whom
you think savage, well enough to wed me?"

"Aye, more than sure," I answered.

"Hearken, Lord. I knew it always, but being woman I desired to hear it
from your own lips. Of this be certain: that though I am but what I am,
a maiden, wild-hearted and untaught, no man shall ever have a truer and
more loving wife. It is my hope, even that my love will be such that in
it at last you may learn to forget that other lady far away who once was
yours, if only for an hour."

Now I shrank as from a sword prick, since first loves, whatever the tale
of them, as Quilla guessed or Nature taught her, are not easily forgot,
and even when they are dead their ghosts will rise and haunt us.

"And my hope, most dear, is that you will be mine, not for an hour but
for all our life's days," I answered.

"Aye," she said, sighing, "but who knows how many these will be?
Therefore let us pluck the flowers before they wither. I hear steps. The
lords come to summon us. Be pleased to enter the Council at my side and
holding me by the hand. There I have somewhat to say to the people. The
shadow of the Inca Kari, whom you spared, still lies cold upon us and
them."

Before I could ask her meaning the lords entered, three of them, and
glancing at us curiously, said that all were gathered. Then they turned
and went before us to the g