An hour after he was brought past her, wounded and senseless; he had saved her brother from imminent death at his own cost, and the tusks of the mighty Styrian boar had plunged through and through his frame, as they had met in the narrow woodland glade.
"He will be a cripple--a paralyzed cripple--for life!" said the one whose life had been saved by his devotion to her that night; and his lips shook a little under his golden beard as he spoke.
She looked at him; she loved him well, and no homage to herself could have moved her as this sacrifice for him had done.
"You think he will live ?" she asked.
"They say it is sure.

He may live on to old age.

But how?
My God! what a death in life! And all for my sake, in my stead!" She was silent several moments; then she raised her face, a little paler than it had been, but with a passionless resolve set on it.
"Philip, we do not leave our debts unpaid.

Go; tell him I will be his wife." "His wife--now! Venetia----" "Go!" she said briefly.

"Tell him what I say." "But what a sacrifice! In your beauty, your youth--" "He did not count cost.