I knew myself the moment I
looked, and it was not hard to guess whose work it was."
She paused and looked at him with appeal on her face.
"Thou hast told no one?"
"Nay," was the quick and earnest answer.
"Thou hast caught me in a falsehood," he said. The statement was
almost brutal in its directness.
But the question that came back swiftly was not less pointed.
"There was no frieze of bondmaidens--naught of anything thou hast told
me?"
"Nay, not anything. I am carving a statue against the canons of the
sculptor's ritual for the sake of my love of beauty. Until thou didst
come upon it, I alone possessed the secret. Thou knowest the
punishment which will overtake me?"
"Aye, I know right well. Yet fear not. The statue is right cunningly
concealed and none will ever find it, for the children were
unsuccessful and the meals for the overseer will be brought him from
the city hereafter. And I will not betray thee--I give thee my word."
Her tone was soft and earnest; her assurances were spoken so
confidently, her interest was so genuine, that a queer and
unaccountable satisfaction possessed the young artist at once.
At this moment the runaway water-bearers came in sight and in obedience
to very evident dismissal in the Israelite's eyes, Kenkenes bade her
farewell and left her.
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