“I have lost—I am losing you,” he said, suddenly, with a burst of anguish. “I cannot make you out these last few weeks. What has come over you? I miss your laughing and your singing. You are always sad now; your eyes—ah, I cannot bear it.” His voice went suddenly anxious. “Tell me, is it—do you—want—need some more money, Yuki? You know you can have all you want.”

She sprang to her feet fiercely.

“No, no, no, no!” she cried; “naever any more for all my life long, dear my lord.”

“Then why—”

“Ah, pray don’ ask why.”

“But why—”

“Then listen unto me. I nod any longer thad liddle bit geisha girl you marrying with. I change grade big moach. Now you see me, I am one wooman, mebbe like wooman one hundled years ole—wise—sad—I change!”

“Yes,” he said. “You are changed. You are my Undine, and I have found your soul at last!”

One oppressive afternoon, when a nagging, bleating wind out-doors had prevented their going on their customary ramble through the woods or on a little trip to the city, Jack had fallen asleep. Long before he had awakened he had felt her warm, soothing presence near him, but with the pleasure it afforded him was mingled a premonition of disaster and a dread of something unhappy about her? He awoke to find her standing by him, her face white and drawn with a despair he could not comprehend.