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Show and the maiden was shamed of a sudden by her dependence. Tears sprang to her eyes and she turned away to the windows to hide them. "Aye, my lady mother," she said in equal coolness. "I have bethought me of such things, and you will hear of them anon." Though she had not thought of such things at all but rather of other things, of other-it seemed-impossible things. Nevertheless, she had indeed grown to adulthood and she must therefore hie herself off on her own. The use of the Acutely Formal you by her daughter shook the good woman to her heart-indeed, 'twas as if a bird had flown out of it. But forsooth, we are riven then and of a surety, the woman thought. The maiden wills it so, and so it shall be. Begone with self pity-it is but nature, unnatural mother though ye be! "Aye then," she said grimly, "the fools here v/ill then not keep thee my crown, my pearl of the HighTartars." Indeed, she began furiously to think, for the child will become free to live her life if it kill her lady mother. Ah, but her mother's heart did ache withal, for she'd convinced herself that the child was hers no more. ?-2 |