Seeing her thus, Owen understood how it came about that she held two men so strangely different in the hollow of her hand, for her charm was of a nature to appeal to both of them--a charm of the spirit as well as of the flesh.

And yet the face was haughty, a face that upon occasion might even become cruel.
"You sent for me and I am here, O King," she said, in a slow and quiet voice.
"Listen, girl," answered the king.

"A while ago the Prince Hafela, my son, named you as her who should be his queen, whereon you were taken and placed in the House of the Royal Women, to abide the day of your marriage, which should be to-morrow." "It is true that the prince has honoured me thus, and that you have been pleased to approve of his choice," she said, lifting her eyebrows.

"What of it, O King ?" "This, girl: the prince who was pleased to honour you is now pleased to dishonour you.

Here, in the presence of the council and army, he prays of me to annul his sealing to you, and to send you back to the house of your guardian, Hokosa the wizard." Noma started, and her face grew hard.
"Is it so ?" she said.