"The Mind Feminine is given to change," said he softly, "and--I
shall return--yes, I shall come back. Smile, madam! Triumph,
cousin! But I shall come between you yet--I tell you, I'll come
between you--living or dead!"
And so he turned, and was gone--into the shadows.
But as for me, I sat down, and, leaning my chin in my hand,
stared down at the broken fragments of my pipe.
"Peter?"
"You are safe now," said I, without looking up, "he is gone--but,
oh, Charmian! was there no other way--?"
She was down beside me on her knees, had taken my hand, rough and
grimy as it was, and pressed it to her lips, and so had drawn it
about her neck, holding it there, and with her face hidden in my
breast.
"Oh--strong man that is so weak!" she whispered. "Oh--grave
philosopher that is so foolish! Oh--lonely boy that is so
helpless! Oh, Peter Vibart--my Peter!"
"Charmian," said I, trembling, "what does it mean?"
"It means, Peter--"
"Yes?"
"That--the--Humble Person--"
"Yes?"
"Will--marry you--whenever you will--if--"
"Yes?"
"If you will--only--ask her."