And the marble visages of the Three softened, and the little flames died down.
"Wait," said Lakla, "there is one other thing they say we must answer before they will hold us to that promise--wait--" She listened, and then her face grew white--white as those of the Three themselves; the glorious eyes widened, stark terror filling them; the whole lithe body of her shook like a reed in the wind.
"Not that!" she cried out to the Three.

"Oh, not that! Not Larry--let me go even as you will--but not him!" She threw up frantic hands to the woman-being of the Trinity.

"Let _me_ bear it alone," she wailed.

"Alone--mother! Mother!" The Three bent their heads toward her, their faces pitiful, and from the eyes of the woman One rolled--tears! Larry leaped to Lakla's side.
_"Mavourneen!"_ he cried.

"Sweetheart, what have they said to you ?" He glared up at the Silent Ones, his hand twitching toward the high-hung pistol holster.
The handmaiden swung to him; threw white arms around his neck; held her head upon his heart until her sobbing ceased.
"This they--say--the Silent Ones," she gasped and then all the courage of her came back.