By sheer force of will I dragged myself to the wood--nor knew anything more until I saw you asleep, and the horrible worm at your neck.

I crept out, dragged the monster from you, and laid my lips to the wound.

You began to wake; I buried myself among the leaves." She rose, her eyes flashing as never human eyes flashed, and threw her arms high over her head.
"What you have made me is yours!" she cried.

"I will repay you as never yet did woman! My power, my beauty, my love are your own: take them." She dropt kneeling beside me, laid her arms across my knees, and looked up in my face.
Then first I noted on her left hand a large clumsy glove.

In my mind's eye I saw hair and claws under it, but I knew it was a hand shut hard--perhaps badly bruised.