The Shadow turned most respectfully to his master, and, touching his sleeve-link, which was of bright gold, said, in a very doubtful voice, "She asks you, oh king, will you allow her, just for to-day, to wear this ornament ?" Felix unbuttoned the shining bauble at once, and was about to hand it to the bride with polite gallantry.

"She may wear it forever, for the matter of that, if she likes," he said, good-humoredly.

"I make her a present of it." But the bride drew back as before in speechless terror, as he held out his hand, and seemed just on the point of bursting out into tears again at this untoward incident.

The Shadow intervened with fortunate perception of the cause of the misunderstanding.

"Korong must not touch or give anything to a bride," he said, quietly; "not with his own hand.
He must not lay his finger on her; that would be unlucky.