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her face。
She came straight up to me； and； resting a dainty hand upon my
shoulder； whispered； 〃Are you come as a spectator only； dear Mr。 Jones； or
do you join in our custom tonight？〃
〃I came only as a bystander； lady； but the fascination of the
opportunity is deadly〃
〃And have you any preference？〃this in the softest little voice from
somewhere in the nape of my neck。 〃Strangers sometimes say there are
fair women in Seth。〃
〃Nonetill you came； and now； as was said a long time ago； 'All is
dross that is not Helen。' Dearest lady；〃 I ran on； detaining her by the
fingertips and gazing up into those shy and star…like eyes； 〃must I indeed
put all the hopes your kindness has roused in me these last few days to a
shuffle in yonder urn； taking my chance with all these lazy fellows？ In
that land whereof I was； we would not have had it so； we loaded our dice
in these matters； a strong man there might have a willing maid though all
heaven were set against him！ But give me leave； sweet lady； and I will
ruffle with these fellows； give me a glance and I will barter my life for
your billet when it is drawn； but to stand idly by and see you won by a
cold chance； I cannot do it。〃
That lady laughed a little and said； 〃Men make laws； dear Jones； for
women to keep。 It is the rule； and we must not break it。〃 Then； gently
tugging at her imprisoned fingers and gathering up her skirts to go； she
added； 〃But it might happen that wit here were better than sword。〃 Then
she hesitated； and freeing herself at last slipped from my side； yet before
she was quite gone half turned again and whispered so low that no one but
I could hear it； 〃A golden pool； and a silver fish； and a line no thicker than
a hair！〃 and before I could beg a meaning of her； had passed down the hall
and taken a place with the other expectant damsels。
〃A golden pool；〃 I said to myself； 〃a silver fish； and a line of hair。〃
What could she mean？ Yet that she meant something； and something
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clearly of importance； I could not doubt。 〃A golden pool； and a silver
fish〃 I buried my chin in my chest and thought deeply but without effect
while the preparations were made and the fateful urn； each maid having
slipped her name tablet within； was brought down to us； covered in a
beautiful web of rose…coloured tissue； and commenced its round； passing
slowly from hand to hand as each of those handsome； impassive； fawn…
eyed gallants lifted a corner of the web in turn and helped themselves to
fate。
〃A golden pool；〃 I muttered； 〃and a silver fish〃so ab… sorbed in my
own thoughts I hardly noticed the great cup begin its journey； but when it
had gone three or four places the glitter of the lights upon it caught my eye。
It was of pure gold； round…brimmed； and circled about with a string of the
blue convolvulus； which implies delight to these people。 Ay！ and each
man was plunging his hand into the dark and taking in his turn a small
notch…edged mother…of… pearl billet from it that flashed soft and silvery as
he turned it in his hand to read the name engraved in unknown characters
thereon。 〃Why；〃 I said； with a start； 〃surely THIS might be the golden
pool and these the silver fish but the hair…fine line？ And again I
meditated deeply； with all my senses on the watch。
Slowly the urn crept round； and as each man took a ticket from it； and
passed it； smiling； to the seneschal behind him； that official read out the
name upon it； and a blushing damsel slipped from the crowd above；
crossing over to the side of the man with whom chance had thus lightly
linked her for the brief Martian year； and putting her hands in his they
kissed before all the company； and sat down to their places at the table as
calmly as country folk might choose partners at a village fair in hay…time。
But not so with me。 Each time a name was called I started and stared
at the drawer in a way which should have filled him with alarm had alarm
been possible to the peace…soaked triflers； then turned to glance to where；
amongst the women； my tender little princess was leaning against a pillar；
with drooping head； slowly pulling a con… volvulus bud to pieces。 None
drew； though all were thinking of her； as I could tell in my fingertips。
Keener and keener grew the suspense as name after name was told and
each slim white damsel skipped to the place allotted her。 And all the time
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I kept muttering to myself about that 〃golden pool；〃 wondering and
wondering until the urn had passed half round the tables and was only
some three men up from meand then an idea flashed across my mind。 I
dipped my fingers in the scented water…basin on the table； drying them
carefully on a napkin； and waiting； outwardly as calm as any； yet inwardly
wrung by those tremors which beset all male creation in such
circumstances。
And now at last it was my turn。 The great urn； blazing golden；
through its rosy covering； was in front； and all eyes on me。 I clapped a
sunburnt hand upon its top as though I would take all remaining in it to
myself and stared round at that companyonly her herself I durst not look
at！ Then； with a beating heart； I lifted a corner of the web and slipped
my hand into the dark inside； muttering to myself as I did so； 〃A golden
pool； and a silver fish； and a line no thicker than a hair。〃 I touched in
turn twenty perplexing tablets and was no whit the wiser； and felt about
the sides yet came to nothing； groping here and there with a rising despair；
until as my fingers； still damp and fine of touch； went round the sides a
second time； yes！ there was some… thing； something in the hollow of the
fluting； a thought； a thread； and yet enough。 I took it unseen； lifting it
with in… finite forbearance； and the end was weighted； the other tablets
slipped and rattled as from their midst； hanging to that one fine virgin hair；
up came a pearly billet。 I doubted no longer； but snapped the thread； and
showed the tablet； heard Heru's name； read from it amongst the soft
applause of that luxurious company with all the unconcern I could muster。
There she was in a moment； lip to lip with me； before them all； her
eyes more than ever like planets from her native skies； and only the quick
heave of her bosom； slowly subsiding like a ground swell after a storm；
remaining to tell that even Martian blood could sometimes beat quicker
than usual！ She sat down in her place by me in the simplest way； and
soon everything was as merry as could be。 The main meal came on now；
and as far as I could see those Martian gallants had extremely good
appetites； though they drank at first but little； wisely remembering the
strength of their wines。 As for me； I ate of fishes that never swam in
earthly seas； and of strange fowl that never flapped a way through thick
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terrestrial air； ate and drank as happy as a king； and falling each moment
more and more in love with the wonderfully beautiful girl at my side who
was a real woman of flesh and blood I knew； yet somehow so dainty； so
pink and white； so unlike other girls in the smoothness of her outlines； in
the subtle grace of each unthinking attitude； that again and again I looked
at her over the rim of my tankard half fearing she might dissolve into
nothing； being the half…fairy which she was。
Presently she asked； 〃Did that deed of mine； the hair in the urn； offend
you； stranger？〃
〃Offend me； lady！〃 I laughed。 〃Why； ha