Free Norton, Andre - Novel 23 by The White Jade Fox (v1.0)

"Damaris!" Saranna wondered if the child was gripped by some kind of a hysterical seizure.
So thinking, she was frightened in turn. She had never seen such rage, if it
were that emotion which now filled Damaris, and she had no idea how to control
the younger girl. Perhaps, the idea flitted across her mind, Honora had not
been so wrong in her estimate of her stepdaughter's nature after all.
                   "Damaris!"
                   The child was sobbing and still struggling,
her eyes wild, her expression near that of a trapped animal, Saranna gave her a
hard shake.
                   "Damaris, listen to me!" She tried
to reach some point of reason which was not dominated by that wild response to
the mere fact that she had entered the hidden garden. "I mean you no harm.
I was curious when I saw you come in here—understand? I was just curious. Just
as you might have been had you suddenly saw me disappear. If you wish it, I
will tell no one about your being here—“
                   Damaris stared up into Saranna's face. Some of
the distraught look faded from her own.
                   "I mean no harm—I am not spying—"
Saranna repeated. "This is a very beautiful and wonderful place, Damaris.
If it is your secret, then I envy you. And I shall say nothing at all about
it—to anyone. This I promise—"
                   Damaris now stood quiet in Saranna's hold, all
the fierceness of her attack gone.
                   "You can't, you know," she said
suddenly, in quite an ordinary tone of voice. "The Princess would know if
you did, and then you would be sorry. And don't go ahead and ask me who the
Princess is, because I won't ever, ever tell you!"
                   "All right," agreed Saranna swiftly.
"I won't ask you any questions."
                   "And you'll come away right now and
promise never to come back?" Damaris demanded. "I don't see why they
let you in. They never have before. Nobody but me—and Grandfather— They watch—"
                   Her eyes darted right and left. Saranna found
herself looking in the same direction, not knowing just what she expected to
see. She was startled by a movement among the willows, but she did not catch
full sight of what was in hiding there.
                   "They're waiting—" Damaris sounded
triumphant. "You had better go. I tell you—go right now."
                   "But what about you,
Damaris?"
                   "Oh, I'll come—this time. Maybe I had
better. If they see me, they'll let you go. Only just never try to come
back."
                   She tugged at Saranna's hand, drawing her back
along the stone path to that hidden entrance. Saranna had no excuse to linger.
Pushing her way among the stiff branches, she found and rescued her net and
paused for a moment to tuck her hair back into it.
                   "Hey, there, Missie, now what are you
doing?"
                   Completely surprised by such a hail, Saranna
looked to her right. But the man who spoke appeared to be talking to Damaris,
who stood scowling again, as he came farther into view from a walk formally
walled by clipped and tended box.
                   "Oh, it's you, Rufe!"
                   "Yes, it's me, Missie. And where’ve you
been? Don't you remember about going off by yourself—what Miss Honora said
would happen if you did?"
                   Saranna moved out, to put her arm about
Damaris' thin shoulders.
                   "Damaris was not alone," she eyed
the newcomer narrowly. "She was showing me the garden."
     

5
     
KO CHANGE
     
                   He was, Saranna decided upon survey, not much
older than herself—perhaps only by two or three years. Though he wore clothing
with some pretense to fashion, it did not fit his stocky body well. And above a
creased stock his