But the woman aforesaid, who was sly and sleek, and somewhat past
her first youth, took both her caresses and her buffets with patience,
for the sake of the gifts and largesse wherewith they were bought.
So now she stood by the board in the pavilion with her head drooping
humbly, yet smiling to herself and heedful of whatso might betide.
But the Lady walked up and down the pavilion hastily, as one much moved.
At last she spake as she walked and said: "Agatha, didst thou
see him when my Lord pointed him out?" "Yea," said the woman
lifting her face a little.
"And what seemed he to thee?" said the Lady. "O my Lady,"
quoth Agatha, "what seemed he to thee?" The lady stood and
turned and looked at her; she was slender and dark and sleek;
and though her lips moved not, and her eyes did not change,
a smile seemed to steal over her face whether she would or not.
The Lady stamped her foot and lifted her hand and cried out.
"What! dost thou deem thyself meet for him?"
And she caught her by the folds over her bosom. But Agatha
looked up into her face with a simple smile as of a child:
"Dost thou deem him meet for thee, my Lady--he a thrall,
and thou so great?" The Lady took her hand from her, but her
face flamed with anger and she stamped on the ground again:
"What dost thou mean?" she said; "am I not great enough
to have what I want when it lieth close to my hand?"
Agatha looked on her sweetly, and said in a soft voice:
"Stretch out thine hand for it then.
Pages:
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410