He found her lying
upon a pile of cushions in a small room that he had never seen before,
which was better lighted than most in that melancholy abode, and seemed
to serve as her private chamber. In front of her lay the skin of the
lion that he had sent as a present, and about her throat hung a necklace
made of its claws, heavily set in gold, with which she was playing idly.
At the opening of the door she looked up with a swift smile that turned
to a frown when she saw that he was followed by Jeekie.
"Say, Vernoon," she asked in her languorous voice, "can you not stir
a yard without that ugly black dog at your heels? Do you bring him to
protect your back? If so, what is the need? Have I not sworn that you
are safe in my land?"
Alan made Jeekie interpret this speech, then answered that the reason
was that he knew but little of her tongue.
"Can I not teach it to you alone, then, without this low fellow hearing
all my words? Well, it will not be for long," and she looked at Jeekie
in a way that made him feel very uncomfortable. "Get behind us, dog, and
you, Vernoon, come sit on these cushions at my side. Nay, not there, I
said upon the cushions--so.
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