“Quite aware, fairy prince; and ready and glad to pay forfeit.” She slipped up still closer for another kiss. “A piece of mauve ribbon, you remember. The kind you wore that night we made the bet.” “Yes, Harilek mine; my memory is still quite good. I’m wearing such to-night. Perhaps”--her eyes were very soft as she looked up--“perhaps I had a presentiment I should lose this evening.” Her eyelids drooped again. “I believe you did, sweetheart. And now I’m going to make you pay up.” And I commenced to collect payment. “This is the ‘offensive action’ part, I suppose. But don’t tear my clothes, _please_, Harilek. That bow comes undone quite easily.” It did--as she said--and between kisses I annexed my prize. “And what are you going to do with it?” she asked, straightening her dress as I folded up my piece of ribbon. “Put it in my cap, so that all the world may know what I’ve won.” “You’ll spoil it! Give it back to me and I’ll put it on properly myself.” She took it out of my hand. Then, in a proud voice, “I told you that if any one wanted my favour he would have to _take_ it!” “And I told you I should remember that remark.” “What a wonderful memory you’re getting these days! What else do you remember?” So I told her other memories, some of which had to be hurriedly suppressed by kisses, until the tread of Paulos’s bearers in the passage caused her to fly upstairs like a startled deer. And it was a long time before she joined us in the dining-hall, very neat and tidy as to hair and frock, but with warm cheeks and eyes that refused to be disguised. Paulos--as ever--was very understanding, although he did express anxiety about our appetites. After dinner, when the servants had left and we three were sitting round the fire, Aryenis next to me, but very far off--nearly a foot away she must have been--I decided to burn my boats. “Paulos,” said I, “do you remember our talk about land?” “Yes, lad, I do quite well.” “Then I thought I’d tell you now that I’ve decided to take your offer and stop in Sakaeland.” I caught Aryenis as she tried to escape. “You see, I’ve found some one to help me with your people, some one to make me really one of you. To-morrow you will see a favour of mauve ribbon upon your steel cap that I wear. And your mail is going to be worn by Aryenis’s husband.” “I always thought so from the first day I gave it you and Aryenis helped you put it on,” said Paulos simply. “I won’t talk banalities about being glad. You both know that. Come here, Aryenis.” She went obediently, but very shyly, and he kissed her twice. “You found much more than life in the gate, child. You found life, and what is more, the best thing in the world that sometimes--alas! only sometimes--goes with it.” He turned to me. “Go to my room, Harilek, and fetch me that carved wooden box that stands upon my table.”