下载辰思小说免费APP
Itwasnight，aboutteno’clockindeed，thehouratwhichAlangenerallywenttobed。NomessagehadcomeandhebegantohopethattheAsikahadforgotten，orchangedhermind，andwasjustgoingtosaysotoJeekiewhenalightcomingfrombehindhimattractedhisattentionandheturnedtoseeherstandinginacornerofthegreatroom，holdingalampinherhandandlookingtowardshim。Hergoldbreastplateandcrownweregone，witheveryotherornament，andshewasclad，orrathermuffledinrobesofpurewhitefittedwithakindofnun’shoodwhichlaybackuponhershoulders。Alsoonherarmshecarriedashawlorveil。Standingthus，allundecked，withherlonghairfastenedinasimpleknot，shestilllookedverybeautiful，moresothanshehadeverbeen，thoughtAlan，forthecrueltyofherfacehadfadedandwasreplacedbyamysteryverystrangetosee。Shedidnotseemquitelikeanaturalwoman，andthatwasthereason，perhaps，thatAlanforthefirsttimefeltattractedbyher。Hithertoshehadalwaysrepelledhim，butthisnightitwasotherwise。
“Howdidyoucomehere？“heaskedinamoregentlevoicethanhegenerallyusedtowardsher。
Notingthechangeinhistone，shesmiledshylyandevencolouredalittle，thenanswered:
“Thishousehasmanysecrets，Vernoon。Whenyouarelordofityoushalllearnthemall，tillthenImaynottellthemtoyou。But，come，thereareothersecretswhichIhopeyoushallseeto-night，and，Jeekie，comeyoualso，foryoushallbethemouthofyourlord，sothatyoumaytellmewhatperhapshewouldhide。“
“Iwilltellyoueverything，everything，OAsika，“answeredJeekie，stretchingouthishandsandbowingalmosttotheground。
Thentheystartedandfollowingmanylongpassagesasbefore，althoughwhethertheywerethesameorothersAlancouldnottell，cameatlasttoadoorwhichherecognized，thatoftheTreasureHouse。Astheyapproachedthisdooritopenedandthroughit，likeahuntedthing，ranthebedizenedMungana，husbandoftheAsika，terror，ormadness，shininginhiseyes。Catchingsightofhiswife，whoborethelamp，hethrewhimselfuponhiskneesandsnatchingatherrobe，addressedsomepetitiontoher，speakingsorapidlythatAlancouldnotfollowhiswords。
Foramomentshelistened，thendraggedherdressfromhishandandspurnedhimwithherfoot。Therewassomethingsocruelinthegestureandtheaction，sofullofdeadlyhateandloathing，thatAlan，whowitnessedit，experiencedanewrevulsionoffeelingtowardstheAsika。Whatkindofawomanmustshebe，hewondered，whocouldtreatadiscardedloverthusinthepresenceofhissuccessor？
Withagroanorasob，itwasdifficulttosaywhich，thepoormanroseandperceivedAlan，whosefacehenowbeheldforthefirsttime，sincetheAsikahadtoldhimnottomaskhimselfastheywouldmeetnoone。Thesightofitseemedtofillhimwithjealousfury；atanyrateheleaptathisrival，intending，apparently，tocatchhimbythethroat。Alan，whowaswatchinghim，steppedaside，sothathecameintovioletcontactwiththewallofthepassageand，half-stunnedbytheshock，reeledonwardsintothedarkness。
“Thehog！“saidtheAsika，orrathe
