Then Leo hurried as swiftly as possible to all the Houses one after another; for he could not understand the new trouble that had come to his brethren. He spoke to the Archer, and the Archer assured him that so far as that House was concerned Leo had nothing to fear. The Waterman, the Fishes, and the Goat, gave the same answer. They knew nothing of Leo, and cared less. They were the Houses, and they were busied in killing men. At last he came to that very dark House where Cancer the Crab lies so still that you might think he was asleep if you did not see the ceaseless play and winnowing motion of the feathery branches round his mouth. That movement never ceases. It is like the eating of a smothered fire into rotten timber in that it is noiseless and without haste. Leo stood in front of the Crab, and the half darkness allowed him a glimpse of that vast blue-black back, and the motionless eyes. Now and again he thought that he heard some one sobbing, but the noise was very faint. "Why do you trouble the children of men?" said Leo. There was no answer, and against his will Leo cried, "Why do you trouble us? What have we done that you should trouble us?" This time Cancer replied, "What do I know or care? You were born into my House, and at the appointed time I shall come for you." "When is the appointed time?" said Leo, stepping back from the restless movement of the mouth. "When the full moon fails to call the full tide," said the Crab, "I shall come for the one. When the other has taken the earth by the shoulders, I shall take that other by the throat." Leo lifted his hand to the apple of his throat, moistened his lips, and recovering himself, said: "Must I be afraid for two, then?" "For two," said the Crab, "and as many more as may come after." "My brother, the Bull, had a better fate," said Leo, sullenly. "He is alone." A hand covered his mouth before he could finish the sentence, and he found the Girl in his arms. Woman-like, she had not stayed where Leo had left her, but had hastened off at once to know the worst, and passing all the other Houses, had come straight to Cancer. "That is foolish," said the Girl whispering. "I have been waiting in the dark for long and long before you came. _Then_ I was afraid. But now----" She put her head down on his shoulder and sighed a sigh of contentment. "I am afraid now," said Leo. "That is on my account," said the Girl. "I know it is, because I am afraid for your sake. Let us go, husband." They went out of the darkness together and came back to the Earth, Leo very silent, and the Girl striving to cheer him. "My brother's fate is the better one," Leo would repeat from time to time, and at last he said: "Let us each go our own way and live alone till we die. We were born into the House of Cancer, and he will come for us." "I know; I know. But where shall I go? And where will you sleep in the evening? But let us try. I will stay here. Do you go on."