There came a day when her feet began to be heavy and her songs more rare;and now it was not Keawe only that would weep apart,but each would sunder from the other and sit in opposite balconies with the whole width of the Bright House betwixt.Keawe was so sunk in his despair,he scarce observed the change,and was only glad he had more hours to sit alone and brood upon his destiny,and was not so frequently condemned to pull a smiling face on a sick heart.But one day,coming softly through the house,he heard the sound of a child sobbing,and there was Kokua rolling her face upon the balcony floor,and weeping like the lost.
"You do well to weep in this house,Kokua,"he said."And yet Iwould give the head off my body that you (at least)might have been happy.""Happy!"she cried."Keawe,when you lived alone in your Bright House,you were the word of the island for a happy man;laughter and song were in your mouth,and your face was as bright as the sunrise.Then you wedded poor Kokua;and the good God knows what is amiss in her -but from that day you have not smiled.Oh!"she cried,"what ails me?I thought I was pretty,and I knew I loved him.What ails me that I throw this cloud upon my husband?""Poor Kokua,"said Keawe.He sat down by her side,and sought to take her hand;but that she plucked away."Poor Kokua,"he said,again."My poor child -my pretty.And I had thought all this while to spare you!Well,you shall know all.Then,at least,you will pity poor Keawe;then you will understand how much he loved you in the past -that he dared hell for your possession -and how much he loves you still (the poor condemned one),that he can yet call up a smile when he beholds you."With that,he told her all,even from the beginning.
"You have done this for me?"she cried "Ah,well,then what do Icare!"-and she clasped and wept upon him.