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that it requires no great stretch of imagination to
see the finger of Providence in the matter。
Ayesha locked up in her living tomb； waiting from age
to age for the coming of her lover； worked but a small
change in the order of the World。 But Ayesha strong
and happy in her love； clothed in immortal youth and
godlike beauty； and the wisdom of the centuries； would
have revolutionized society； and even perchance have
changed the destiny of mankind。 Thus she opposed
herself against the eternal Law； and； strong though
she was； by it was swept back to nothingnessswept
back with shame and hideous mockery！
For some minutes I lay faintly turning these terrors
over in my mind； while my physical strength came back
to me； which it quickly did in that buoyant
atmosphere。 Then I bethought me of the others； and
staggered to my feet； to see if I could arouse them。
But first I took up Ayesha's kirtle and the gauzy
scarf with which she had been wont to hide her
dazzling loveliness from the eyes of men； and；
averting my head so that I might not look upon it；
covered up that dreadful relic of the glorious dead；
that shocking epitome of human beauty and human life。
I did this hurriedly； fearing lest Leo should recover；
and see it again。
Then； stepping over the perfumed masses of dark hair
that lay I upon the sand； I stooped down by Job； who
was lying upon his face； and turned him over。 As I did
so his arm fell back in a way that I did not like； and
which sent a chill through me； and I glanced sharply
at him。 One look was enough。 Our old and faithful
servant was dead。 His nerves； already shattered by all
he had seen and undergone； had utterly broken down
beneath this last dire sight； and he had died of
terror； or in a fit brought on by terror。 One had only
to look at his face to see it。
It was another blow； but perhaps it may help people to
understand how overwhelmingly awful was the experience
through which we had passedwe didn't feel it much at
the time。 It seemed quite natural that the poor old
fellow should be dead。 When Leo came to himself； which
he did with a groan and trembling of the limbs about
ten minutes afterwards； and I told him that job was
dead； he merely said； 〃Oh！〃 And； mind you； this was
from no heartlessness； for he and Job were much
attached to each other； and he often talks of him now
with the deepest regret and affection。 It was only
that his nerves would bear no more。 A harp can give
out but a certain quantity of sound； however heavily
it is smitten。
Well； I set myself to recovering Leo； who； to my
infinite relief； I found was not dead； but only
fainting； and in the end I succeeded； as I have said；
and he sat up； and then I saw another dreadful thing。
When we entered that awful place his curling hair had
been of the ruddiest gold； now it was turning gray；
and by the time we gained the outer air it was snow
white。 Besides； he looked twenty years older。
〃What is to be done； old fellow？〃 he said； in a
hollow； dead sort of voice； when his mind had cleared
a little； and a recollection of what had happened
forced itself upon it。
〃Try and get out； I suppose；〃 I answered； 〃that is；
unless you would like to go in there；〃 and I pointed
to the column of fire that was once more rolling by。
〃I would go in if I were sure that it would kill me；〃
he said； with a little laugh。 〃It was my cursed
hesitation that did this。 If I had not been doubtful
she might never have tried to show me the road。 But I
am not sure。 The fire might have the opposite effect
upon me。 It might make me immortal； and； old fellow； I
have not the patience to wait a couple of thousand
years for her to come back again as she did for me。 I
had rather die when my hour comesand I should fancy
that it isn't far off eitherand go my ways to look
for her。 Do you go in if you like。〃
But I merely shook my head； my excitement was as dead
as ditch…water； and my distaste for the prolongation
of my mortal span had come back upon me more strongly
than ever。 Besides； we neither of us knew what the
effects of the fire might be。 The result upon _i_ She
_i_ had not been of an encouraging nature； and of the
exact causes that produced that result we were； of
course； ignorant。
〃Well； my boy；〃 I said； 〃we cannot stop here till we
go the way of those two；〃 and I pointed to the little
heap under the white garment and to the stiffening
corpse of poor Job。 〃If we are going we had better go。
But； by the way； I expect that the lamps have burned
out；〃 and I took one up and looked at it； and sure
enough it had。
〃There is some more oil in the vase；〃 said Leo；
indifferently〃if it is not broken； at least。〃
I examined the vessel in questionit was intact。 With
a trembling hand I filled the lampsluckily there was
still some of the linen wick unburned。 Then I lit them
with one of our wax matches。 While I did so we heard
the pillar of fire approaching once more as it went on
its never…ending journey； if； indeed； it was the same
pillar that passed and repassed in a circle。
〃Let's see it come once more；〃 said Leo； 〃we shall
never look upon its like again in this world。〃
It seemed a bit of idle curiosity； but somehow I
shared it； and we so waited till； turning slowly round
upon its own axis； it had flamed and thundered by； and
I remember wondering for how many thousands of years
this same phenomenon had been taking place in the
bowels of the earth； and for how many more thousands
it would continue to take place。 I wondered also if
any mortal eyes would ever again mark its passage； or
any mortal ears be thrilled and fascinated by the
swelling volume of its majestic sound。 I do not think
that they will。 I believe that we are the last human
beings who will ever see that unearthly sight。
Presently it had gone； and we too turned to go。
But before we did so we each took Job's cold hand in
ours and shook it。 It was a rather ghastly ceremony；
but it was the only means in our power of showing our
respect to the faithful dead and of celebrating his
obsequies。 The heap beneath the white garment we did
not uncover。 We had no wish to look upon that terrible
sight again。 But we went to the pile of rippling hair
that had fallen from her in the agony of that hideous
change which was worse than a thousand natural deaths；
and each of us drew from it a shining lock； and these
locks we still have； the sole memento that is left to
us of Ayesha as we knew her in the fulness of her
grace and glory。 Leo pressed the perfumed hair to his
lips。
〃 _i_ She _i_ called to me not to forget her；〃 he
said； hoarsely； 〃and swore that we should meet again。
By Heaven！ I never will forget her。 Here I swear that；
if we live to get out of this； I will not for all my
days have anything to say to another living woman； and
that wherever I go I will wait for her as faithfully
as she waited for me。〃
〃Yes；〃 I thought to myself； 〃if she comes back as
beautiful as we knew her。 But supposing she came back
like that！〃
Well； and then we went。 We went； and left those two in
th