“Thanks, Sullenbode!” he responded, with a troubled smile.

“When Maskull passes, let people watch.  Everyone is thrown out of your road.  You go on, looking neither to right nor left.”

“Take care that you are not thrown as well,” said Corpang gravely.

“Maskull shall do with me whatever he pleases, old skull!  And for whatever he does, I will thank him....  In place of a heart you have a bag of loose dust.  Someone has described love to you.  You have had it described to you.  You have heard that it is a small, fearful, selfish joy.  It is not that—­it is wild, and scornful, and sportive, and bloody....  How should you know.”

“Selfishness has far too many disguises.”

“If a woman wills to give up all, what can there be selfish in that?”

“Only do not deceive yourself.  Act decisively, or fate will be too swift for you both.”

Sullenbode studied him through her lashes.  “Do you mean death—­his death as well as mine?”

“You go too far, Corpang,” said Maskull, turning a shade darker.  “I don’t accept you as the arbiter of our fortunes.”

“If honest counsel is disagreeable to you, let me go on ahead.”

The woman detained him with her slow, light fingers.  “I wish you to stay with us.”

“Why?”

“I think you may know what you are talking about.  I don’t wish to bring harm to Maskull.  Presently I’ll leave you.”

“That will be best,” said Corpang.

Maskull looked angry.  “I shall decide—­Sullenbode, whether you go on, or back, I stay with you.  My mind is made up.”

An expression of joyousness overspread her face, in spite of her efforts to conceal it.  “Why do you scowl at me, Maskull?”

He returned no answer, but continued walking onward with puckered brows.  After a dozen paces or so, he halted abruptly.  “Wait, Sullenbode!”

The others came to a standstill.  Corpang looked puzzled, but the woman smiled.  Maskull, without a word, bent over and kissed her lips.  Then he relinquished her body, and turned around to Corpang.

“How do you, in your great wisdom, interpret that kiss?”

“It requires no great wisdom to interpret kisses, Maskull.”

“Hereafter, never dare to come between us.  Sullenbode belongs to me.”

“Then I say no more; but you are a fated man.”

From that time forward he spoke not another word to either of the others.

A heavy gleam appeared in the woman’s eyes.  “Now things are changed, Maskull.  Where are you taking me?”

“Choose, you.”

“The man I love must complete his journey.  I won’t have it otherwise.  You shall not stand lower than Corpang.”

“Where you go, I will go.”

“And I—­as long as your love endures, I will accompany you even to Adage.”

“Do you doubt its lasting?”

“I wish not to....  Now I will tell you what I refused to tell you before.  The term of your love is the term of my life.  When you love me no longer, I must die.”