“She seems to have lost all seriousness since her recovery,” said Onrai to himself, as he followed Enola into the villa, “but this may be joyousness over that recovery. But she will have to be serious when the time comes, for my people will demand it.”
Enola had gone into her own apartment, where she found Nellie awaiting her.
“Has Onrai said anything to you yet?” asked Nellie.
“About what?” asked Enola.
“About his intended marriage,” said Nellie, and she tried to smile, but could not, the whole matter seemed such a farce.
“About his marriage? why he has not mentioned it to me,” said Enola.
“It is strange he should not have spoken to you about it,” said Nellie, “for it concerns you quite as much as himself.”
“In what way?” asked Enola. “I cannot possibly see how I am concerned in his marriage.” But as she spoke she remembered the conversation of the night of the storm and of his accusation. For he had told her then that a King was not allowed to marry, how was this then, that he was going to break the law.
“Tell me, Nellie,” said she.
“I can hardly bring myself to do so,” said Nellie. “We told you that we had trouble with the people when you were sick, which nearly ended in our massacre, but we did not tell you all concerning that trouble. You are strong enough now and can hear it. They accused you of bewitching the King, when you knew he was forbidden by the laws to either love or marry. They said that the storm had come to them as a warning, and was God’s wrath on them for harboring us, and they were going to kill us. But the high priest learned that the King could marry you if he so desired, and so we were pardoned, and now it is the King’s intention and the people’s desire that you should marry him. But I cannot understand why he has not spoken to you about it. Oh, Enola, can you marry this barbarous king?”