“It will give me strength if you will but condescend. The sacrifice will be sweet, if it gives your lordship pleasure!”
“Pleasure! Gods!”
He broke down completely and, like a child, buried his face upon her bosom. But no tears came to the relief of the girl. Tremulously, tenderly, she smoothed his hair.
Presently he put her from him and sat back looking at her now with hungry, somber eyes. She met his glance with a bright bravery. Their hands close-locked, they repeated solemnly together the promise to marry in all the lives yet to come and to travel the final journey to Nirvana together.
Then:
“There is satisfaction in performing a noble duty,” said he, automatically.
And she:
“It is a privilege for one so humble to serve the exalted ancestors of your excellency in even so insignificant a way.”
Silence a moment, during which he tried to speak, but could not. Then he burst out wildly:
“A thousand august ancestors call to me sternly from the noble past.” He covered his eyes, lest the wistful, appealing beauty of her face might cause him to falter. “They entreat me not to extinguish their honorable spark of life. I am but the honorable custodian of the seed! I cannot prove recreant to its charge!”