So the King had a hard task before him in the morning and it worried him fearfully. Enola had seen his downcast countenance, and guessing the cause, had followed him out on the terrace. Taking hold of his arm, as he paced up and down, she said:
“Onrai, do not give up at the outstart. This is a sad task which you have to perform. But it is only the first one of a number like ones which will come later, when the mothers and sisters and wives of the unfortunates will come to gain information from you, when you will be in the city. So if you give up now what will you do after awhile? Be strong and make these men understand as well as possible, the real condition of things. Try and impress them with the greatness of the deed which made such heroes of their dead comrades, and of the fearful consequences if they had failed to act so nobly and bravely. Say not too much about the eruption, but leave the impression that it buried and burned the hated negroes who had invaded this country, and had slaughtered so many of their countrymen. Impress them with the fact that all of these brave Onians were killed in defence of their country and their loved ones, and then, if you can make them understand why these negroes were here, and how they entered the country, they will better appreciate the great sacrifice of life which has been made for them. Let them still retain their old belief that theirs is the only world on this sphere, letting them think that the negroes came from another world far away. They can better understand the latter for they have seen us and believe that we came from another planet, and this too, would leave the old belief unshaken, and would insure less unhappiness, than if their life-long teachings were destroyed.”
“You are right,” said Onrai, “as you always are, and I will act upon your advice. But Enola, have you thought of the time when we will be married? We are about to return to the city and the word has gone forth that on the Day of Resis you will marry me.”
“The day has then been fixed?” questioned Enola. “I had not learned this.”
“Yes, it has been decided upon,” said the King. “On that great day when so many of my countrymen will meet, with joy and loud songs of praise, on the evening of that day, after the ceremonies have been performed, you will become my wife.”
Enola had expected that Onrai would make some such announcement soon, but she had no idea that he would name such an early day, for, as she understood it, the Day of Resis, was but a short time away.
“When is the Day of Resis?” asked Enola.
“Four weeks from to-day, according to your calendar,” said Onrai.
“Is not that very soon, Onrai?” asked Enola.
“Too soon?” exclaimed Onrai; “how can you ask such a question, Enola? If you love me as I do you, you would wish, as do I, that the day was to-morrow. The time to me seems a long way off. Our days will not be too many after our marriage, and it is well we should add to these as many as possible. And again, my people have so decreed that we should be married on that day.”