Ihadgoneupthestepstodomyhatefulworkamanfullofgrief，thoughoutwardlyunmoved。AsIcamedownagainIhadafeelingofincompleteness;itseemedasthoughhalfmyinwardshadbeenleftbehindwithNaisinthehollowofthestone，andtheirplacewastakenbyavoidwhichachedwearily;butstillIcarriedapassiveface，andmemorythatbeforealltheseprivatemattersstoodthecommandoftheHighCouncil，whichsatbeforetheArkoftheMysteries。
SoIwentandstoodbeforePhorenice，andsaidthewordswhichtheancientformsprescribedconcerningthecarryingoutofherwish。
\"Then，now，\"shesaid，\"Iwillgivemyselftoyouaswife。Wearenotasothers，youandI，Deucalion。Thereisalawandaformsetdownforthemarryingoftheseotherpeople，butthatwouldbeuselessforourpurposes。Wewillhaveneitherpriestnorscribetojoinusandsetdowntheunion。IamthelawhereinAtlantis，andyousoonwillbepartofme。Wewillnotbedemeanedbyprofanerhands。Wewillmaketheceremonyforourselves，andforwitnesses，therearesufficientinwaiting。Afterwards，therecordshallbecutdeepinthegranitethroneyouhavebuiltforme，andtheletteringfilledinwithgold，sothatitshallendureandremainbrightforalways。\"
\"TheEmpresscandonowrong，\"Isaidformally，andtookthehandsheofferedme，andhelpedhertorise。Wewalkedoutfromthescarletawningintotheglareofthesunshine，sheleaningonme，flushing，andsoradiantlylovelythatthepeoplebegantohailherwithrapturousshoutsof\"AGoddess;ourGoddessPhorenice。\"
Butformetheyhadnowelcomingword。Ithinkthesetgrimnessofmyfacebothscaredandrepelledthem。