"I know," she said. "And I guess that was where I went wrong. I ought to
have waited till we were dead. But, you see, I didn't know."
"Then do you tell me you are not free?" Merefleet said. "Do you mean
literally that? Are you the actual property of another man?"
She shook her head with baffling promptitude.
"I guess I'm just Death's property, Big Bear," she said, with a wistful
little smile. "But he doesn't seem over-keen on having me."
"Stop!" said Merefleet harshly. "I won't have you talk like that. It's
madness. Tell me what you mean!"
"I can't," Mab said. "I can't tell you. It wouldn't be fair. Don't be
angry, Big Bear! It's just the price I've got to pay. And it's no use
squirming. I've worried it round and round. But it always comes back to
that. I'm not free. And no one but Bert must ever know why."
Merefleet sprang to his feet with an impatience by no means
characteristic of him.
"This is intolerable!" he exclaimed. "You are wrecking your life for an
insane scruple. Child, listen! Tell me nothing whatever! Give yourself
to me! No one shall ever take you away again. That I swear. And I will
make you so happy, dear. Only trust me!"
But Mab covered her face as if to shut out a forbidden sight.
"Big Bear, I mustn't," she said, with a sharp catch in her voice. "I've
done very wrong already. But I mustn't do this. Indeed I mustn't.
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