Who can resist the intoxication of the senses?—especially their instinctive pledge, which does not rise to the mental plane, but is merely a matter of exquisite feeling on both sides. In his agitation, Yermah busied himself clumsily with the spider-web threads, and soon had them hopelessly entangled. He was so genuinely distressed when they broke that his companion hastily put the wheel away and substituted an instrument like the zither, only much larger, played with thimbles of tortoise-shell fastened to the fingers. Kerœcia sang a plaintive love-song to her own accompaniment. When she had finished, Yermah sat down beside her and slipped his arm around her waist. “Something in thy song makes me sad. Tell me again that thou wilt be happy as my wife.” She patted his cheek tenderly and gave the assurance. “And wilt thou pray that children may bless and sweeten our lives together?” Kneeling beside him, she promised. Seeing that he was still in a serious mood, she said soothingly: “Let not ungentle doubt knit thy brow. For all time, and for all eternity, I give myself to thee absolutely and without reserve.” “And I bind my soul to cherish and love thee always. Thou art a jewel imbedded in my very heart’s core. Hast thou a wish in my power to grant?” She stroked his temples gently for a moment, and then said: “Thou art both skilled and learned, and I delight in thy achievements. Hast thou shown all thy quality? Thou art as modest as a violet, but thou hast said that thou wilt do much to please me. Make me to know thy handiwork, and it shall be to me above rubies.” It was such artless flattery that Yermah promised with swelling pride and an inward conviction that his every thought and wish would find a quick response and ready sympathy in her companionship. After this they talked but little, much of their time being spent in the strange silent awe of perfect love. With a pretty show of confidence which thrilled Yermah, Kerœcia lifted his disengaged hand and carried it to its fellow, which was yet about her waist, and of her own accord added slightly to the pressure. Baffled by the subtle change of expression which accompanied this movement, Yermah asked quickly: “What is it, loved one?” “I feel securely sheltered from all the world,” she said, “when thy strong arms enfold me. I wonder if thou canst realize what a complete haven I feel that I have in thee?” “Not more than I find in thy sweet mind, thy pure soul, and thy warm heart,” he answered, as he kissed her forehead, eyes and lips. He had taken her fully into his protecting care. She leaned on him without restraint and suffered her eyelids to droop for a moment. Gradually both of them yielded to a sense of weariness—a reaction inevitable from the tension of the previous days.