“Are you beautiful in Bermuda?”
“Why, yes,” said Jane. “I guess so.”
“I am beautiful in my world. Tako has said so.”
“You love him, don’t you?” Jane said abruptly.
“Yes. That is true.” There was no hint of embarrassment. Her pale blue eyes stared at Jane, and she smiled a little quizzically. “Does it show so quickly upon my face that you saw it at once? I am called Tolla because I am pledged soon to enter Tako’s harem.”
Upon impulse Jane put her arm around the other girl as they sat on the couch. “I think he is very nice.”
But she saw it was an error. The shadow of a frown came upon Tolla’s face; a glint of fire clouded her pale, serene eyes.
“He will be the greatest man of his world,” she said quietly.
THERE was an awkward silence. “The harem, I am told,” Jane said presently, “is one of your customs.” She took a plunge. “And Tako told us why they want our Earth girls. There was one of my friends stolen from Bermuda—”
“And yet you call him very nice,” Tolla interrupted with sudden irony. “Girls are frank in our world. But you are not. What did you mean by that?”