And the marble visages of the Three softened, and the little
flames died down.
"Wait," said Lakla, "there is one other thing they say we must answer
before they will hold us to that promise--wait--"
She listened, and then her face grew white--white as those of the
Three themselves; the glorious eyes widened, stark terror filling
them; the whole lithe body of her shook like a reed in the wind.
"Not that!" she cried out to the Three. "Oh, not that! Not
Larry--let me go even as you will--but not him!" She threw up frantic
hands to the woman-being of the Trinity. "Let _me_ bear it alone," she
wailed. "Alone--mother! Mother!"
The Three bent their heads toward her, their faces pitiful, and from
the eyes of the woman One rolled--tears! Larry leaped to Lakla's side.
_"Mavourneen!"_ he cried. "Sweetheart, what have they said to you?"
He glared up at the Silent Ones, his hand twitching toward the
high-hung pistol holster.
The handmaiden swung to him; threw white arms around his neck; held
her head upon his heart until her sobbing ceased.
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