“Thou wast blind?” cried the serving-[pg 108]maid, laughing incredulously. “Nay, but thine eyes are bright as stars.”
“They were not bright,” said Tor soberly. “They were smitten into darkness. The Roman did it with his chariot-whip. But the King, my Master, touched them. So I see. I must find him. I pray thee let me go!”
“Let him go,” said the child imperiously. “Dost thou hear me, Oonah? And, stay, I will give the boy my gold bracelet that father gave me yesterday. Nay, I have said it!”
The maid clasped her hands. “But, princess,” she entreated, “what would the honorable lady, thy mother, do with me if the bracelet be missing? And to a beggar lad—for thou seest that he is nothing more. The boy would be scourged or stoned if found with such a jewel in his hand.”
The child glanced doubtfully at Tor from under the curling gold of her hair. “What shall I give thee, boy?” she asked. “For I will give thee something; thou hast amused me, and Oonah here is so stupid. I am quite weary of her.”
“I am hungry,” said Tor promptly. “Also, I am thirsty. Also, I want to get out of this place.”
The little princess burst into a silvery laugh. “Come with me,” she said imperiously. And, before the maid could stop her, she seized the beggar child by the hand and drew him away up the steps of a marble terrace. Oonah followed in terrified silence.
Beneath the shadow of a silken canopy, on a couch of ivory and silver cushioned with rose-colored damask reclined a lady. The most beautiful lady, thought Tor, that the sun ever shone upon. The [pg 110]beggar’s brilliant eyes sparkled with amazement and pleasure; his white teeth glimmered through his scarlet lips in an innocent smile, which faded before the look of haughty displeasure on the lady’s fair face.
“What is this, Felicia?” she demanded, raising her head from the pillow to a white hand loaded with gems.
“Oh, my worshipful lady,” began Oonah, trembling under the cold, questioning eyes which were bent upon her. “I beseech of thee to listen to me, while I—”