"No!"

"Simpleton! Because she wishes you to convey to me the message that
she considers me your lover and that she admires my taste! Now
she'll go back to New York full of the story! Subtle little devil!
But I am not your lover, and never shall be,--not even for half an
hour!"

Manella sprang up from the turf where she had been sitting.

"I know that!" she said, and her splendid eyes flashed proud
defiance--"I know I have been a fool to let myself care for you! I
do not know why I did--it was an illness! But I am well now!"

"You are well now? Good! O let us be joyful! Keep well, Manella!--
and be 'quite beautiful'--as you are! To be quite beautiful is a
fine thing--not so fine as it used to be in the Greek period--still,
it has its advantages! I wonder what you will do with your beauty?"

As he spoke, he rose, stretching and shaking him self like a forest
animal.

"What will you do with it?" he repeated--"You must give it to
somebody! You must transmit it to your offspring! That's the old law
of nature--it's getting a bit monotonous, still it's the law! Now
she--the wonderful white woman--she's all for upsetting the law!
Fortunately she's not beautiful--"

"She IS!" exclaimed Manella--"_I_ think her so!" He looked down upon