him?" asked Kasana.

"How could I do otherwise?" replied Ephraim. "He had already lost a
great deal of blood and was pale as death. So I carried him to the
nearest ditch, washed the gaping wound, and anointed it with his
balsam."

"I put the little box in his pouch myself a year ago," said the nurse
who was easily moved, wiping her eyes. Ephraim confirmed the statement,
for Apu had gratefully told him of it. Then he went on.

"I tore my upper garment into strips and bandaged the wound as well as I
could. Meanwhile he constantly urged haste, held out the pass and letter
his master had given him and, knowing nothing of the misfortune which
had befallen me, charged me to deliver the roll to the prince in his
place. Oh, how willingly I undertook the task and, soon after the second
hour had passed, I reached the camp. The letter is in the prince's
hands, and here am I--and I can see that you are glad! But no one was
ever so happy as I to sit here at your feet, and look up to you, so
grateful as I am that you have listened to me so kindly, and if they
load me with chains again I will bear it calmly, if you will but care
for me. Ah, my misfortune has been so great! I have neither father nor
mother, no one who loves me. You, you alone are dear, and you will not
repulse me, will you?"

He had fairly shouted the last words, as if beside himself, and carried
away by the might of passion and rendered incapable by the terrible
experiences of the past few hours of controlling the emotions that
assailed him, the youth, still scarcely beyond childhood, who saw
himself torn away from and bereft of all that had usually sustained
and supported him, sobbed aloud, and like a frightened birdling seeking
protection under its mother's wings, hid his head, amid floods of tears,
in Kasana's lap.

Warm compassion seized upon the tender-hearted young widow, and her own
eyes grew dim. She laid her hands kindly upon his head, and feeling the
tremor that shook the frame of the weeping lad, she raised his head with
both hands, kissed his brow and cheeks, looked smilingly into his eyes
with tears in her own, and exclaimed:

"You poor, foolish fellow! Why should I not care for you, why should I
repel you? Your uncle is the most beloved of men to me, and you are like
his son. For your sakes I have already accepted what I should otherwise
have thrust far, far from me! But now I must go on, and must not care
what others may think or say of me, if o