Itwasnight，aboutteno’clockindeed，thehouratwhichAlangenerallywenttobed。NomessagehadcomeandhebegantohopethattheAsikahadforgotten，orchangedhermind，andwasjustgoingtosaysotoJeekiewhenalightcomingfrombehindhimattractedhisattentionandheturnedtoseeherstandinginacornerofthegreatroom，holdingalampinherhandandlookingtowardshim。Hergoldbreastplateandcrownweregone，witheveryotherornament，andshewasclad，orrathermuffledinrobesofpurewhitefittedwithakindofnun’shoodwhichlaybackuponhershoulders。Alsoonherarmshecarriedashawlorveil。Standingthus，allundecked，withherlonghairfastenedinasimpleknot，shestilllookedverybeautiful，moresothanshehadeverbeen，thoughtAlan，forthecrueltyofherfacehadfadedandwasreplacedbyamysteryverystrangetosee。Shedidnotseemquitelikeanaturalwoman，andthatwasthereason，perhaps，thatAlanforthefirsttimefeltattractedbyher。Hithertoshehadalwaysrepelledhim，butthisnightitwasotherwise。
“Howdidyoucomehere？“heaskedinamoregentlevoicethanhegenerallyusedtowardsher。
Notingthechangeinhistone，shesmiledshylyandevencolouredalittle，thenanswered:
“Thishousehasmanysecrets，Vernoon。Whenyouarelordofityoushalllearnthemall，tillthenImaynottellthemtoyou。But，come，thereareothersecretswhichIhopeyoushallseeto-night，and，Jeekie，comeyoualso，foryoushallbethemouthofyourlord，sothatyoumaytellmewhatperhapshewouldhide。“
“Iwilltellyoueverything，everything，OAsika，“answeredJeekie，stretchingouthishandsandbowingalmosttotheground。