kily　just　at　that　moment　you　came　and　saved　my　life。〃

〃Suppose　I　send　you　to　him；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

Stunned；　she　pleaded　with　tears；　〃What　have　thy　handmaid　done？　My　honor　of　serving　only　Your　Highness　could　not　bear　being　given　to　a　mere　underling！　Never！　I　would　rather　die。〃

And　with　this　she　snatched　down　a　dagger　hanging　on　the　wall　to　kill　herself。

Dong　Zhuo　plucked　it　from　her　hand　and；　throwing　his　arms　about　her；　and　cried；　〃I　was　only　joking！〃

She　lay　back　on　his　breast　hiding　her　face　and　sobbing　bitterly。

〃This　is　the　doing　of　that　Li　Ru；〃　said　she。　〃He　is　much　too　thick　with　Lu　Bu。　He　suggested　that；　I　know。　Little　he　cares　for　the　Imperial　Rector's　reputation　or　my　life。　Oh！　I　could　eat　him　alive。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　could　bear　to　lose　you？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

〃Though　you　love　me　yet　I　must　not　stay　here。　That　Lu　Bu　will　try　to　ruin　me　if　I　do。　I　fear　him。〃

〃We　will　go　to