mate, of course! She is bright .and intelligent.
Work can be found that she can do, and she is also very proud. Though
she is frightened of you, she is also pleased that you accepted her and
I am afraid she's already quite in love with you. If you turn her away
she will refuse to eat and starve herself to death. That is her
peoples' way."
7 North shook his head, then turned to the girl, who immediately bowed
her head, as was the custom of women among her people when a man
looked at them, or spoke to them. This time North spoke with his voice,
not his mind. "Stop doing that!" he insisted. "Among my people a woman
LOOKS AT her mate, and shows him her eyes. She is not an inferior that
must not dare to look at him. If you are going to live among our
people, you will respect our ways."
8 The girl straightened up and gave North a confusing look half way
between pleasure and anger. "And what," she asked, "of OUR ways? It
brings me joy to pay homage to the father of my children. Is that joy
to be taken from me?"
9 The Voice thought to North. "Compromise," he suggested, "choose a
middle ground."
10 North nodded. "In public," he insisted, "before my people you will
walk beside me and hold your head up. When we are alone together, you
may pay me all the homage you wish, and when we are before your people
you may act as your women do."
11 "My mate is a fair man," the woman answered. "This little white
blossom is pleased that her father has traded her to a fair man."
12 "Come," North ordered, "there is a ceremony that is required among
our people. Before I take you home it should be performed."
13 "I will honor the customs of my mate's people," the woman answered.