You forget
yourself, as you forget that I am the husband of the Princess of
Helium."
"I forget nothing, my Prince," she replied. "You have spoken
no word of love to me, nor do I expect that you ever shall; but
nothing can prevent me loving you. I would not take the place of
Dejah Thoris. My greatest ambition is to serve you, my Prince,
for ever as your slave. No greater boon could I ask, no greater
honour could I crave, no greater happiness could I hope."
As I have before said, I am no ladies' man, and I must admit that
I seldom have felt so uncomfortable and embarrassed as I did that
moment. While I was quite familiar with the Martian custom which
allows female slaves to Martian men, whose high and chivalrous
honour is always ample protection for every woman in his household,
yet I had never myself chosen other than men as my body servants.
"And I ever return to Helium, Thuvia," I said, "you shall go with
me, but as an honoured equal, and not as a slave. There you shall
find plenty of handsome young nobles who would face Issus herself
to win a smile from you, and we shall have you married in short order
to one of the best of them. Forget your foolish gratitude-begotten
infatuation, which your innocence has mistaken for love. I like
your friendship better, Thuvia."
"You are my master; it shall be as you say," she replied simply,
but there was a note of sadness in her voice.
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