As he loves
me, of his own free will, and to his own destruction--as I should have
loved him, had it been so fated."
"So you are a fatalist, Unorna," observed her companion, still stroking
and twisting his beard. "It is strange that we should differ upon so
many fundamental questions, you and I, and yet be such good friends. Is
it not?"
"The strangest thing of all is that I should submit to your exasperating
ways as I do."
"It does not strike me that it is I who am quarrelling this time," said
Keyork.
"I confess, I would almost prefer that to your imperturbable coolness.
What is this new phase? You used not to be like this. You are planning
some wickedness. I am sure of it."
"And that is all the credit I get for keeping my temper! Did I not say a
while ago that I would never quarrel with you again?"
"You said so, but--"
"But you did not expect me to keep my word," said Keyork, slipping from
his seat on the table with considerable agility and suddenly standing
close before her. "And do you not yet know that when I say a thing I do
it, and that when I have got a thing I keep it?"
"So far as the latter point is concerned, I have nothing to say. But you
need not be so terribly impressive; and unless you are going to break
your word, by which you seem to set such store, and quarrel with me, you
need not look at me so fiercely."
Keyork suddenly let his voice drop to its deepest and most vibrating
key.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193