There was nothing coarse in the smile, indeed it had a certain spiritual quality which thrilled him.

"I like you," she went on in her dreamy voice, "I would keep you with me until your spirit is drawn up into my spirit, making it strong and rich as all the spirits that went before have done, those spirits that my mothers loved from the beginning, which dwell in me to-day." Now Alan grew alarmed, desperate even.
"Queen," he said, "but just now your husband sat here, is it right then that you should talk to me thus ?" "My husband," she answered, laughing.

"Why, that man is but a slave who plays the part of husband to satisfy an ancient law.

Never has he so much as kissed my finger tips; my women--those who waited on you last night--are his wives, not I,--or may be, if he will.

Soon he will die of love for me, and then when he is dead, though not before, I may take another husband, any husband that I choose, and I think that no black man shall be my lord, who have other, purer blood in me.