"Still, I don't think I'll kick you," said she in a soft, grave voice, "because although you runs away like a coward, you comes back again. Though to be sure I didn't need you—"
"But," said I, keeping my face hidden, "I heard you cry out—"
"That was because I wished you to come back, though having my little churi, I didn't need you; I've managed worse than him before now! However, you did come back—which was more than I expected. But I'll never call you 'young man' any more because you ain't a real man, are you?"
"God help me!" I groaned, for added to my shame the pain of my hurts was more than I could well bear, "O God help me!" And now indeed it seemed that in some measure He answered my prayer, for, as I strove to rise, the faintness seized me again and I sank to a blessed unconsciousness.
CHAPTER XV
PROVING THAT A GODDESS IS WHOLLY FEMININE
I was lying beneath a tree, my head softly pillowed and wet with cool water that refreshed me wonderfully; thus I presently turned my head and glanced up into eyes that gazed down upon me, very beautiful eyes these seemed, being soft and tender and darkly grey.
"Are ye better?" she questioned. Now at this I wondered, for the voice matched the eyes for gentleness.
"Thank you, much better."
"He hurt you more than I thought."