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Lady Ragnall was absolved from her high office of Guardian or Nurse to
a god whereof the symbol no longer existed； though I believe that the
priests collected the tiny fragments of ivory； or as many of them as
could be found； and preserved them in a jar in the sanctuary。 After
this had been done women stripped the Nurse of her hallowed robes； of
the ancient origin of which； by the way； I believe that none of them；
except perhaps Har？t； had any idea； any more than they knew that the
Child represented the Egyptian Horus and his lady Guardian the moon…
goddess Isis。 Then； dressed in some native garments； she was handed
over to Ragnall and thenceforth treated as a stranger…guest； like
ourselves； being allowed； however； to live with her husband in the
same house that she had occupied during all the period of her strange
captivity。 Here they abode together； lost in the mutual bliss of this
wonderful reunion to which they had attained through so much bodily
and spiritual darkness and misery； until a month or so later we
started upon our journey across the mountains and the great desert
that lay beyond them。
Only once did I find any real opportunity of private conversation with
Lady Ragnall。
This happened after her husband had recovered from the hurts he
received in the battle； on an occasion when he was obliged to separate
from her for a day in order to attend to some matter in the Town of
the Child。 I think it had to do with the rifles used in the battle；
which he had presented to the White Kendah。 So； leaving me to look
after her； he went； unwillingly enough； who seemed to hate losing
sight of his wife even for an hour。
I took her for a walk in the wood； to that very point indeed on the
lip of the crater whence we had watched her play her part as priestess
at the Feast of the First…fruits。 After we had stood there a while we
went down among the great cedars； trying to retrace the last part of
our march through the darkness of that anxious night； whereof now for
the first time I told her all the story。
Growing tired of scrambling among the fallen boughs； at length Lady
Ragnall sat down and said：
〃Do you know； Mr。 Quatermain； these are the first words we have really
had since that party at Ragnall before I was married； when； as you may
have forgotten； you took me in to dinner。〃
I replied that there was nothing I recollected much more clearly；
which was both true and the right thing to say； or so I supposed。
〃Well；〃 she said slowly； 〃you see that after all there was something
in those fancies of mine which at the time you thought would best be
dealt with by a doctorabout Africa and the rest； I mean。〃
〃Yes； Lady Ragnall； though of course we should always remember that
coincidence accounts for many things。 In any case they are done with
now。〃
〃Not quite； Mr。 Quatermain； even as you mean； since we have still a
long way to go。 Also in another sense I believe that they are but
begun。〃
〃I do not understand； Lady Ragnall。〃
〃Nor do I； but listen。 You know that of anything which happened during
those months I have no memory at all； except of that one dream when I
seemed to see George and Savage in the hut。 I remember my baby being
killed by that horrible circus elephant； just as the Ivory Child was
killed or rather destroyed by Jana； which I suppose is another of your
coincidences； Mr。 Quatermain。 After that I remember nothing until I
woke up and saw George standing in front of me covered with blood； and
you； and Jana dead； and the rest。〃
〃Because during that time your mind was gone； Lady Ragnall。〃
〃Yes； but where had it gone？ I tell you； Mr。 Quatermain； that although
I remember nothing of what was passing about me then； I do remember a
great deal of what seemed to be passing either long ago or in some
time to come； though I have said nothing of it to George； as I hope
you will not either。 It might upset him。〃
〃What do you remember？〃 I asked。
〃That's the trouble； I can't tell you。 What was once very clear to me
has for the most part become vague and formless。 When my mind tries to
grasp it； it slips away。 It was another life to this； quite a
different life； and there was a great story in it of which I think
what we have been going through is either a sequel or a prologue。 I
see； or saw； cities and temples with people moving about them； George
and you among them； also that old priest； Har？t。 You will laugh； but
my recollection is that you stood in some relationship to me； either
that of father or brother。〃
〃Or perhaps a cousin；〃 I suggested。
〃Or perhaps a cousin；〃 she repeated； smiling； 〃or a great friend； at
any rate something very intimate。 As for George； I don't know what he
was； or Har？t either。 But the odd thing is that little yellow man；
Hans； whom I only saw once living for a few minutes that I can
remember； comes more clearly back to my mind than any of you。 He was a
dwarf； much stouter than when I saw him the other day； but very like。
I recall him curiously dressed with feathers and holding an ivory rod；
seated upon a stool at the feet of a great personagea king； I think。
The king asked him questions； and everyone listened to his answers。
That is all； except that the scenes seemed to be flooded with
sunlight。〃
〃Which is more than this place is。 I think we had better be moving；
Lady Ragnall； or you will catch a chill under these damp cedars。〃
I said this because I did not wish to pursue the conversation。 I
considered it too exciting under all her circumstances； especially as
I perceived that mystical look gathering on her face and in her
beautiful eyes； which I remembered noting before she was married。
She read my thoughts and answered with a laugh：
〃Yes； it is damp； but you know I am very strong and damp will not hurt
me。 For the rest you need not be afraid； Mr。 Quatermain。 I did not
lose my mind。 It was taken from me by some power and sent to live
elsewhere。 Now it has been given back and I do not think it will be
taken again in that way。〃
〃Of course it won't；〃 I exclaimed confidently。 〃Whoever dreamed of
such a thing？〃
〃/You/ did；〃 she answered； looking me in the eyes。 〃Now before we go I
want to say one more thing。 Har？t and the head priestess have made me
a present。 They have given me a box full of that herb they called
tobacco； but of which I have discovered the real name is Taduki。 It is
the same that they burned in the bowl when you and I saw visions at
Ragnall Castle； which visions； Mr。 Quatermain； by another of your
coincidences； have since been translated into facts。〃
〃I know。 We saw you breathe that smoke again as priestess when you
uttered the prophecy as Oracle of the Child at the Feast of the First…
fruits。 But what are you going to do with this stuff； Lady Ragnall？ I
think you have had enough of visions just at present。〃
〃So do I； though to tell you the truth I like them。 I am going to keep
it and