“Because it was evil, Priest, and disobeyed me and the Power I serve.”
“Oh! thank you,” said Bastin, “that fits in exactly. It was just the same in Noah’s time.”
“I pray that it is not just the same now,” said Oro, rising. “To-morrow we will return, or if I do not who have much that I must do, the lady my daughter will return and speak with you further.”
He departed into the cave, Yva following at a little distance.
I accompanied her as far as the mouth of the cave, as did Tommy, who all this time had been sitting contentedly upon the hem of her gorgeous robe, quite careless of its immemorial age, if it was immemorial and not woven yesterday, a point on which I had no information.
“Lady Yva,” I said, “did I rightly understand the Lord Oro to say that he was a thousand years old?”
“Yes, O Humphrey, and really he is more, or so I think.”
“Then are you a thousand years old also?” I asked, aghast.
“No, no,” she replied, shaking her head, “I am young, quite young, for I do not count my time of sleep.”
“Certainly you look it,” I said. “But what, Lady Yva, do you mean by young?”