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caverns； that though bright it burn； and brighter yet；
doth but the more serve to show the depths of the
gloom around it？ And what good thing is there beyond
that we may gain by length of days？〃
〃Nay； my Holly； there is lovelove which makes all
things beautiful； and doth breathe divinity into the
very dust we tread。 With love shall life roll
gloriously on from year to year； like the voice of
some great music that hath power to hold the hearer's
heart poised on eagle's wings above the sordid shame
and folly of the earth。〃
〃It may be so；〃 I answered； 〃but if the loved one
prove a broken reed to pierce us； or if the love be
loved in vainwhat then？ Shall a man grave his
sorrows upon a stone when he hath but need to write
them on the water？ Nay； O _i_ She _i_ ； I will live my
day and grow old with my generation； and die my
appointed death； and be forgotten。 For I do hope for
an immortality to which the little span that perchance
thou canst confer will be but as a finger's length
laid against the measure of the great world； and； mark
this！ the immortality to which I look； and which my
faith doth promise to me； shall be free from the bonds
that here must tie my spirit down。 For； while the
flesh endures； sorrow and evil and the scorpion whips
of sin must endure also； but when the flesh hath
fallen from us； then shall the spirit shine forth clad
in the brightness of eternal good； and for its common
air shall breathe so rare an ether of most noble
thoughts that the highest aspiration of our manhood；
or the purest incense of a maiden's prayer； would
prove too earthly gross to float therein。〃
〃Thou lookest high；〃 answered Ayesha； with a little
laugh； 〃and speakest clearly as a trumpet and with no
uncertain sound。 And yet methinks that but now didst
thou talk of that Unknown from which the winding…sheet
doth curtain us。 But perchance thou seest with the
eye； of Faith； gazing on this brightness that is to
be； through the painted glass of thy imagination。
Strange are the pictures of the future that mankind
can thus draw with this brush of faith and this many…
colored pigment of imagination！ Strange； too； that no
one of them doth agree with another！ I could tell
theebut there； what is the use？ why rob a fool of
his bauble？ Let it pass； and I pray； O Holly； that
when thou dost feel old age creeping slowly towards
thyself； and the confusion of senility making havoc in
thy brain； thou mayest not bitterly regret that thou
didst cast away the imperial boon I would have given
to thee。 But so it hath ever been； man can never be
content with that which his hand can pluck。 If a lamp
be in his reach to light him through the darkness； he
must needs cast it down because it is no star。
Happiness danceth ever a pace before him； like the
marsh…fires in the swamps； and he must catch the fire；
and he must hold the star！ Beauty is naught to him；
because there are lips more honey…sweet； and wealth is
naught； because others can weigh him down with heavier
shekels； and fame is naught； because there have been
greater men than he。 Thyself thou saidst it； and I
turn thy words against thee。 Well； thou dreamest that
thou shalt pluck the star。 I believe it not； and I
think thee a fool； my Holly； to throw away the lamp。〃
I made no answer； for I could notespecially before
Leotell her that since I had seen her face I knew
that it would always be before my eyes； and that I had
no wish to prolong an existence which must always be
haunted and tortured by her memory； and by the last
bitterness of unsatisfied love。 But so it was； and so；
alas； is it to this hour！
〃And now；〃 went on _i_ She _i_ ； changing her tone and
the subject together； 〃tell me； my Kallikrates； for as
yet I know it not； how came ye to seek me here？
Yesternight thou didst say that Kallikrateshim whom
thou sawestwas thine ancestor。 How was it？ Tell me
thou dost not speak overmuch！〃
Thus adjured； Leo told her the wonderful story of the
casket and of the potsherd that； written on by his
ancestress； the Egyptian Amenartas； had been the means
of guiding us to her。 Ayesha listened intently； and；
when he had finished； spoke to me。
〃Did I not tell thee one day； when we did talk of good
and evil； O Hollyit was when my beloved lay so ill
that out of good came evil； and out of evil goodthat
they who sowed knew not what the crop should be； nor
he who struck where the blow should fall？ See； now：
this Egyptian Amenartas； this royal child of the Nile
who hated me； and whom even now I hate； for in a way
she did prevail against mesee； now； she herself hath
been the very means to bring her lover to mine arms！
For her sake I slew him； and now； behold； through her
he hath come back to me！ She would have done me evil；
and sowed her seeds that I might reap tares； and
behold she hath given me more than all the world can
give； and there is a strange square for thee to fit
into thy circle of good and evil； O Holly！
〃And so；〃 she went on； after a pause〃and so she bade
her son destroy me if he might； because I slew his
father。 And thou； my Kallikrates； art the father； and
in a sense thou art likewise the son； and wouldst thou
avenge thy wrong； and the wrong of that far…off mother
of thine upon me； O Kallikrates？ See；〃 and she slid to
her knees； and drew the white corsage still farther
down her ivory bosom〃see； here beats my heart； and
there by thy side is a knife； heavy and long and
sharp； the very knife to slay an erring woman with。
Take it now； and be avenged。 Strike； and strike home！…
…so shalt thou be satisfied； Kallikrates； and go
through life a happy man； because thou hast paid back
the wrong； and obeyed the mandate of the past。〃
He looked at her； and then stretched out his hand and
lifted her to her feet。
〃Rise； Ayesha；〃 he said； sadly； 〃well thou knowest
that I cannot strike thee； no； not even for the sake
of her whom thou slewest but last night。 I am in thy
power； and a very slave to thee。 How can I kill thee？…
…sooner should I slay myself。〃
〃Almost dost thou begin to love me； Kallikrates；〃 she
answered； smiling。 〃And now tell me of thy country
'tis a great people； is it not？ with an empire like
that of Rome！ Surely thou wouldst return thither； and
it is well； for I mean not that thou shouldst dwell in
these caves of Ko^r。 Nay； when once thou art even as I
am； we will go hencefear not but that I shall find a
pathand then shall we cross to this England of
thine； and live as it becometh us to live。 Two
thousand years have I waited for the day when I should
see the last of these hateful caves and this gloomy…
visaged folk； and now it is at hand； and my heart
bounds up to meet it like a child's towards its
holiday。 For thou shalt rule this England〃
〃But we have a queen already；〃 broke in Leo； hastily。
〃It is naught； it is naught；〃 said Ayesha； 〃she can be
overthrown。〃 At this we both broke out into an
exclamation of dismay； and explained that we should as
soon think of overthrowing ourselves。
〃But here is a strange thing；〃 said Ayesha； in
astonishment； 〃a qu