The Romance of a Water-Lily. 143

 

The words froze upon his tongue. Yet the little
heifer still lowed plaintively hard by, and after a
while he spoke.

“Have you no word for me, Salome?” said he,
sadly.

“No,” answered she between closed lips; “I have
nothing to say.”

“You are cruel,” answered he, mournfully. “But
you do not know, and you are in your right. Perhaps
if you knew you would be different.”

She turned on him now, her eyes fiercer than ever.
“Yes, now you will tell me that you have risked
your life for my sake!” cried she, scornfully. “You,
who do not believe in anything, who laugh at the old
legends. You did not go because you thought there
was danger, and you wanted to brave it for my sake!
No; you only went because you thought it was a
mere childish whim of mine, which you could gratify
without any trouble and so satisfy me. But I am
not satisfied. No; Iam nota fool! Over and over
again you have made me the laughing-stock of the