Quick, hot, unconsidered words flew to my lips — so sweet and fearless were her eyes. But I only muttered:

“Tell me all.”

“From the beginning, then — to scour my heart out for you! So, first and earliest my consciousness awoke to the sound of drums. I am sure of this because when I hear them it seems as though they were the first sounds that I ever heard� . And once, lately, they were like to be the last� . And next I can remember playing with a painted mask of wood, and how the paint tasted, and its odour� . Then, nothing more can I remember until I was a little child with — him I thought to be my father. I may not name him. You will understand presently why I do not.”

She looked down, pulling idly at the thrums along her beaded leggins.