I will draw my hood about my face, and no one will heed me." He laughed in tender derision.

"You will not go!" he said.

"Did you think that I would let you run a risk rather than fetch the water from the conduit." "You will go ?" "Where is the pot ?" He fetched the jar from its place under the stairs, snatched up his cap, and turning the key in the lock was in the act of passing out when she seized his arm.

"Kiss me," she murmured.

She lifted her face to his, her eyes half closed.
He drew her to him, but her lips were cold; and as he released her she sank passively from his embrace, and was near falling.