Kenkenes guessed the cause of her delight and, deserting his
post, went to her side. Below stood Seti, on tiptoe, his hands
upstretched against the tall hull.
"O, I can not reach thee," he was crying. Kenkenes caught up the
trembling, blushing, repentant girl and lowered her plump into the
prince's eager arms.
When Kenkenes saw her an hour later, he lifted her out of her curricle
before the portals of Senci's house.
"What did I tell thee?" he said softly.
But the little girl clung to his arms and leaned against him with a sob.
"O Kenkenes," she whispered, "he came but to drag me away to look upon
her!"
"Didst go?" he asked.
"Nay," she answered fiercely.
After a silence Kenkenes spoke again:
"He does not love her, Io. Believe me. I doubt not the sorceress hath
bewitched him, but he would not rush after a whilom sweetheart to have
her look upon a new one. Rather would he strive to cover up his
faithlessness. But he hath been untrue to thee in this--that he shares
a thought with the witch when his whole mind should be full of thee.
Bide thy time till he emerges from the spell, then make him writhe.
Meantime, save thy tears. Never was a man worth one of them."
He kissed her again and set her inside Senci's house.
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