Suddenly
Kari stared and stared.
"What is it?" I asked idly.
"I thought I saw something yonder far away where Quilla's footsteps make
the waters bright," he said, speaking in his own language in which now
we often talked together.
"Quilla's?" I exclaimed. "Oh! I forgot: that is the lady moon's name in
your tongue, is it not? Well, come, Quilla, and I will wed and worship
you, as 'tis said the ancients did, and never turn to look upon another,
be she woman, or goddess, or both. Only come and take me from this
accursed isle and in payment I'll die for you, if need be, when first
I've taught you how to love as star or woman never loved before."
"Hush!" said Kari in a grave voice, when he had listened to this mad
stuff that burst through my lips from the spring of a mind distraught by
misery and despair.
"Why should I hush?" I asked. "Is it not pleasant to think of the moon
wearing a lovely woman's shape and descending to give a lonely mortal
love and comfort?"
"Because, Master, to me and my people the moon is a goddess who hears
prayer and answers it.
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