aside the curtain that went into the inner court and there Lotus walked in her silken robes. When she saw him she cried out at the earth upon his clothes and shuddered when he came near her. But he laughed and he seized her small, curling hands in his soiled ones and he laughed again and said, “Now you see that your lord is but a farmer and you a farmer’s wife!” Then she cried out with spirit, “A farmer’s wife am I not, be you what you like!” And he laughed again and went out from her easily. He ate his evening rice all stained as he was with the earth and unwillingly he washed himself even
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