"
"Neither mother nor sister nor lady-love," she mused. He nodded, but
the slight interrogative emphasis caught him, and he looked up at her.
He nodded again.
"Nay, nor lady-love, thanks to the luck of Nechutes."
"Nechutes is no longer lucky," she said deliberately.
"No matter," Kenkenes insisted. "I shall be gone eighteen days, and
his luck will have changed before I can return."
"Thine auguries seem to please thee," she pouted.
He put the back of her jeweled hand against his cheek.
"Nay, I but comfort thee at the sacrifice of mine own peace."
"A futile sacrifice."
"What!"
"A futile sacrifice!"
"Ah, Ta-meri, beseech the Goddess Ma to forget thy words!" he cried in
mock horror. She tossed her head, and instantly he got upon his feet,
catching up his coif as he did so.
"Come, bid me farewell," he said putting out his hand, "and one of
double sweetness, for I doubt me much if Nechutes will permit a welcome
when I return."
"Nechutes will not interfere in mine affairs," she said, as she rose.
"Nay, I shall know if that be true when I return," he declared.
She stamped her foot.
"Fie!" he laughed. "Already do I begin to doubt it."
She turned from him and kept her face away.
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