“When this news was brought to me the sun appeared dark in my eyes and I laid myself on my bed and wept for a day. But on the second day I rose up and washed my face and caused my mare Hwin to be saddled and took with mea sharp dagger which my brother had carried in the western wars and rode out alone. And when my father’s house was out of sight and I was come to a green open place in a certain wood where there were no dwellings of men， I dismounted from Hwin my mare and took out the dagger. Then I parted my clothes where I thought the readiest way lay to my heart and I prayed to all the gods that as soon as I was dead I might find myself with my brother. After that I shut my eyes and my teeth and prepared to drive the dagger into my heart. But before I had done so， this mare spoke with the voice of one of the daughters of men and said， ‘O my mistress， do not by any means destroy yourself， for if you live you may yet have good fortune but all the dead are dead alike’.”
“I didn‘t say it half so well as that，” muttered the mare. “Hush， Ma’am， hush，” said Bree， who was thoroughlyenjoying the story. “She‘s telling it in the grand Calormene manner and no story.teller in a Tisroc’s court could do it better. Pray go on， Tarkheena.”