Sita gave a little cry.
“How could you – think of anything so – ?” she stopped. “I think – actually you are only – teasing me or blackmailing me.”
“You can choose which you like, but what I am asking you is serious, and I think you are intuitive enough to know that is the truth.”
Her eyes widened and she said,
“You are in disguise.”
“I am answering no questions.”
“You asked me – a lot.”
“That was different. I am doing my duty and you are trying to escape from yours.”
She gave a little laugh that somehow made her seem even younger than she looked.
Then she said,
“All right, you win, but suppose I – find I cannot – bear it?”
“You have to give me your promise on everything you hold holy that you will not attempt anything like that again unless I give you my permission.”
Sita sat u
