they were of precisely the same height.

"And there is danger?"

"Oh, yes," said her husband, indifferently.

"If you should be killed, you will let me know at once?"

"Certainly, I will tell you myself," laughed he. "For what is that
killing to this going away from you!"

"Oh--it is not so sad as waiting--waiting--waiting--for you to come
again! Have I made you happy?"

"As a god," he said.

"Then, if you should not be killed--you will come back to be happy
again?"

"Nothing but death shall keep me from you!"

"Swear--by your eyes--by your heart--by your soul--by your mother's,
your father's memory!"

All of which he did--still laughing.

"What more, beloved one?"

"Only your own sweet word, my beautiful lord, that you will come back.
Say this: 'Beloved who loves me more than the rest in Buddha's bosom,
and whom I love as much--' That is true, is it not?"

"That is true," he laughed.

"'I will come back at the first moment of opportunity, if I live, to
my--wife!'"

He repeated this after her.

"Now go! The waiting will be ecstasy. Go! The sooner you go, the sooner
you will return. I am not afraid. I am your wife. You have said it. Here
or there, in the earths or the heavens! For all your lives--all, all!
And I will be no other man's wife while I live! Or after death. And some
day you shall have a son--like you in everything!--to keep the lamps
alight when you are dead. For there will be for you a soldier's shrine.
Now go or my heart will burst. And remember that in China or America or
Germany I am your wife! But in Japan I am an eta--and you. Remember!
Some day there will be a son, some day--_soon_!"

For if nothing else would bring him back, she thought this untrue
promise would!

And so they parted--she pulling him back and pushing him off--there by
the Sacred City he had helped to win--until she closed her eyes and
clenched her hands and flung herself on the ground, face down, and would
not touch or speak to him again. When he was out of sight she was sorry,
and ran to the roof whence she could see the hills. There he was,
walking between the two soldiers! And he turned because she so
desperately wished him to--the gods made him do it, of this she was
certain--and waved a hand to her; and with both of hers she sent after
him all the blessings of the immortal gods.

"I will--I will be brave," she cried terribly to Isonna, who had said
nothing. "I will be brave as he!"

"But how can we whe