\"Those,alas,arenotthetearsofrepentance！\"shesaid。\"Thetruetearsgatherintheeyes。Thosearefarmorebitter,andnotsogood。Self—loathingisnotsorrow。Yetitisgood,foritmarksastepinthewayhome,andinthefather\'sarmstheprodigalforgetstheselfheabominates。Oncewithhisfather,heistohimselfofnomoreaccount。Itwillbesowithher。\"
Shewentnearerandsaid,\"Willyourestorethatwhichyouhavewrongfullytaken？\"
\"Ihavetakennothing,\"answeredtheprincess,forcingoutthewordsinspiteofpain,\"thatIhadnottherighttotake。Mypowertotakemanifestedmyright。\"
Maralefther。
Graduallymysoulgrewawareofaninvisibledarkness,asomethingmoreterriblethanaughtthathadyetmadeitselffelt。AhorribleNothingness,aNegationpositiveinfoldedher;theborderofitsbeingthatwasyetnobeing,touchedme,andforoneghastlyinstantIseemedalonewithDeathAbsolute！ItwasnottheabsenceofeverythingIfelt,butthepresenceofNothing。Theprincessdashedherselffromthesettletothefloorwithanexceedinggreatandbittercry。ItwastherecoilofBeingfromAnnihilation。
\"Forpity\'ssake,\"sheshrieked,\"tearmyheartout,butletmelive！\"
Withthattherefelluponher,anduponusalsowhowatchedwithher,theperfectcalmasofasummernight。Sufferinghadallbutreachedthebrimofherlife\'scup,andahandhademptiedit！Sheraisedherhead,halfrose,andlookedaroundher。Amomentmore,andshestooderect,withtheairofaconqueror:shehadwonthebattle！Darefulshehadmetherspiritualfoes;theyhadwithdrawndefeated！Sheraisedherwitheredarmaboveherhead,ap鎍nofunholytriumphinherthroat——whensuddenlyhereyesfixedinaghastlystare。——Whatwassheseeing？
Ilooked,andsaw:beforeher,castfromunseenheavenlymirror,stoodthereflectionofherself,andbesideitaformofsplendentbeauty,Shetrembled,andsankagainonthefloorhelpless。SheknewtheonewhatGodhadintendedhertobe,theotherwhatshehadmadeherself。
Therestofthenightshelaymotionlessaltogether。
Withthegraydawngrowingintheroom,sherose,turnedtoMara,andsaid,inpridefulhumility,\"Youhaveconquered。Letmegointothewildernessandbewailmyself。\"
Marasawthathersubmissionwasnotfeigned,neitherwasitreal。
Shelookedatheramoment,andreturned:
\"Begin,then,andsetrightintheplaceofwrong。\"
\"Iknownothow,\"shereplied——withthelookofonewhoforesawandfearedtheanswer。
\"Openthyhand,andletthatwhichisinitgo。\"
Afiercerefusalseemedtostruggleforpassage,butshekeptitprisoned。
\"Icannot,\"shesaid。\"Ihavenolongerthepower。Openitforme。\"
Sheheldouttheoffendinghand。Itwasmoreapawthanahand。Itseemedtomeplainthatshecouldnotopenit。
Maradidnotevenlookatit。
\"Youmustopenityourself,\"shesaidquietly。
\"IhavetoldyouIcannot！\"
\"Youcanifyouwill——notindeedatonce,butbypersistenteffort。
Whatyouhavedone,youdonotyetwishundone——donotyetintendtoundo！\"
\"Youthinkso,Idaresay,\"rejoinedtheprincesswithaflashofinsolence,\"butIKNOWthatIcannotopenmyhand！\"
\"Iknowyoubetterthanyouknowyourself,andIknowyoucan。Youhaveoftenopeneditalittleway。Withouttroubleandpainyoucannotopenitquite,butyouCANopenit。Atworstyoucouldbeatitopen！Iprayyou,gatheryourstrength,andopenitwide。\"
\"IwillnottrywhatIknowimpossible。Itwouldbethepartofafool！\"
\"Whichyouhavebeenplayingallyourlife！Oh,youarehardtoteach！\"
Defiancereappearedonthefaceoftheprincess。SheturnedherbackonMara,saying,\"Iknowwhatyouhavebeentormentingmefor！Youhavenotsucceeded,norshallyousucceed！Youshallyetfindmestrongerthanyouthink！Iwillyetbemistressofmyself！IamstillwhatIhavealwaysknownmyself——queenofHell,andmistressoftheworlds！\"
Thencamethemostfearfulthingofall。Ididnotknowwhatitwas;Iknewmyselfunabletoimagineit;IknewonlythatifitcamenearmeIshoulddieofterror！InowknowthatitwasLIFE
INDEATH——lifedead,yetexistent;andIknewthatLilithhadhadglimpses,butonlyglimpsesofitbefore:ithadneverbeenwithheruntilnow。
Shestoodasshehadturned。Marawentandsatdownbythefire。
Fearingtostandalonewiththeprincess,Iwentalsoandsatagainbythehearth。Somethingbegantodepartfromme。Asenseofcold,yetnotwhatwecallcold,crept,notinto,butoutofmybeing,andpervadedit。Thelampoflifeandtheeternalfireseemeddyingtogether,andIabouttobeleftwithnaughtbuttheconsciousnessthatIhadbeenalive。Mercifully,bereavementdidnotgosofar,andmythoughtwentbacktoLilith。
Somethingwastakingplaceinherwhichwedidnotknow。Weknewwedidnotfeelwhatshefelt,butweknewwefeltsomethingofthemiseryitcausedher。Thethingitselfwasinher,notinus;itsreflex,hermisery,reachedus,andwasagainreflectedinus:shewasintheouterdarkness,wepresentwithherwhowasinit！Wewerenotintheouterdarkness;hadwebeen,wecouldnothavebeenWITHher;weshouldhavebeentimelessly,spacelessly,absolutelyapart。Thedarknessknowsneitherthelightnoritself;onlythelightknowsitselfandthedarknessalso。NonebutGodhatesevilandunderstandsit。
Somethingwasgonefromher,whichthenfirst,byitsabsence,sheknewtohavebeenwithhereverymomentofherwickedyears。Thesourceoflifehadwithdrawnitself;allthatwasleftherofconsciousbeingwasthedregsofherdeadandcorruptedlife。
Shestoodrigid。Maraburiedherheadinherhands。Igazedonthefaceofonewhoknewexistencebutnotlove——knewnorlife,norjoy,norgood;withmyeyesIsawthefaceofalivedeath！
Sheknewlifeonlytoknowthatitwasdead,andthat,inher,deathlived。Itwasnotmerelythatlifehadceasedinher,butthatshewasconsciouslyadeadthing。Shehadkilledherlife,andwasdead——andknewit。ShemustDEATHITforeverandever！
Shehadtriedherhardesttounmakeherself,andcouldnot！shewasadeadlife！shecouldnotcease！shemustBE！InherfaceIsawandreadbeyonditsmisery——sawinitsdismaythatthedismaybehinditwasmorethanitcouldmanifest。Itsentoutalividgloom;
thelightthatwasinherwasdarkness,andafteritskinditshone。
ShewaswhatGodcouldnothavecreated。Shehadusurpedbeyondhershareinself—creation,andherparthadundoneHis！Shesawnowwhatshehadmade,andbehold,itwasnotgood！Shewasasaconsciouscorpse,whosecoffinwouldnevercometopieces,neversetherfree！Herbodilyeyesstoodwideopen,asifgazingintotheheartofhorroressential——herownindestructibleevil。Herrighthandalsowasnowclenched——uponexistentNothing——herinheritance！
ButwithGodallthingsarepossible:Hecansaveeventherich！
Withoutchangeoflook,withoutsignofpurpose,LilithwalkedtowardMara。Shefelthercoming,androsetomeether。
\"Iyield,\"saidtheprincess。\"Icannotholdout。Iamdefeated。
——Nottheless,Icannotopenmyhand。\"
\"Haveyoutried？\"
\"Iamtryingnowwithallmymight。\"
\"Iwilltakeyoutomyfather。Youhavewrongedhimworstofthecreated,thereforehebestofthecreatedcanhelpyou。\"
\"HowcanHEhelpme？\"
\"Hewillforgiveyou。\"
\"Ah,ifhewouldbuthelpmetocease！NoteventhatamIcapableof！Ihavenopowerovermyself;Iamaslave！Iacknowledgeit。
Letmedie。\"
\"Aslavethouartthatshallonedaybeachild！\"answeredMara。——\"Verily,thoushaltdie,butnotasthouthinkest。Thoushaltdieoutofdeathintolife。NowistheLifefor,thatneverwasagainstthee！\"
Likehermother,inwhomlaythemotherhoodofalltheworld,MaraputherarmsaroundLilith,andkissedherontheforehead。Thefiery—coldmiserywentoutofhereyes,andtheirfountainsfilled。
Shelifted,andborehertoherownbedinacorneroftheroom,laidhersoftlyuponit,andclosedhereyeswithcaressinghands。
Lilithlayandwept。TheLadyofSorrowwenttothedoorandopenedit。
Morn,withtheSpringinherarms,waitedoutside。Softlytheystoleinattheopeneddoor,withagentlewindintheskirtsoftheirgarments。ItflowedandflowedaboutLilith,ripplingtheunknown,upwakingseaofherlifeeternal;ripplingandtorippleit,untilatlengthshewhohadbeenbutasaweedcastonthedrysandyshoretowither,shouldknowherselfaninletoftheeverlastingocean,henceforthtoflowintoherforever,andebbnomore。Sheansweredthemorningwindwithrevivingbreath,andbegantolisten。Forintheskirtsofthewindhadcometherain——thesoftrainthathealsthemown,themany—woundedgrass——soothingitwiththesweetnessofallmusic,thehushthatlivesbetweenmusicandsilence。Itbedewedthedesertplacesaroundthecottage,andthesandsofLilith\'sheartheardit,anddrankitin。WhenMarareturnedtositbyherbed,hertearswereflowingsofterthantherain,andsoonshewasfastasleep。
CHAPTERXL
THEHOUSEOFDEATH
TheMotherofSorrowsrose,muffledherface,andwenttocalltheLittleOnes。Theysleptasifallthenighttheyhadnotmoved,butthemomentshespoketheysprangtotheirfeet,freshasifnew—made。
Merrilydownthestairtheyfollowedher,andshebroughtthemwheretheprincesslay,hertearsyetflowingassheslept。Theirgladfacesgrewgrave。Theylookedfromtheprincessoutontherain,thenbackattheprincess。
\"Theskyisfalling！\"saidone。
\"Thewhitejuiceisrunningoutoftheprincess！\"criedanother,withanawedlook。
\"Isitrivers？\"askedOdu,gazingatthelittlestreamsthatflowedadownherhollowcheeks。
\"Yes,\"answeredMara,\"——themostwonderfulofallrivers。\"
\"Ithoughtriverswasbigger,andrushed,likealotofLittleOnes,makingloudnoises！\"hereturned,lookingatme,fromwhomalonehehadheardofrivers。
\"Lookattheriversofthesky！\"saidMara。\"Seehowtheycomedowntowakeupthewatersundertheearth！Soonwilltheriversbeflowingeverywhere,merryandloud,likethousandsandthousandsofhappychildren。Oh,howgladtheywillmakeyou,LittleOnes！
Youhaveneverseenany,anddonotknowhowlovelyisthewater！\"
\"Thatwillbethegladofthegroundthattheprincessisgrowngood,\"saidOdu。\"Seethegladofthesky！\"
\"Aretheriversthegladoftheprincess？\"askedLuva。\"Theyarenotherjuice,fortheyarenotred！\"
\"Theyarethejuiceinsidethejuice,\"answeredMara。
Oduputonefingertohiseye,lookedatit,andshookhishead。
\"Princesswillnotbitenow！\"saidLuva。
\"No;shewillneverdothatagain,\"repliedMara。\"——Butnowwemusttakehernearerhome。\"
\"Isthatanest？\"askedSozo。
\"Yes;averybignest。Butwemusttakehertoanotherplacefirst。\"
\"Whatisthat？\"
\"Itisthebiggestroominallthisworld。——ButIthinkitisgoingtobepulleddown:itwillsoonbetoofulloflittlenests。——Goandgetyourclumsies。\"
\"Pleasearethereanycatsinit？\"
\"Notone。Thenestsaretoofulloflovelydreamsforonecattogetin。\"
\"Weshallbereadyinaminute,\"saidOdu,andranout,followedbyallexceptLuva。
Lilithwasnowawake,andlisteningwithasadsmile。
\"Butherriversarerunningsofast！\"saidLuva,whostoodbyhersideandseemedunabletotakehereyesfromherface。\"Herrobeisall——Idon\'tknowwhat。Clumsieswon\'tlikeit！\"
\"Theywon\'tmindit,\"answeredMara。\"Thoseriversaresocleanthattheymakethewholeworldclean。\"
Ihadfallenasleepbythefire,butforsometimehadbeenawakeandlistening,andnowrose。
\"Itistimetomount,Mr。Vane,\"saidourhostess。
\"Tellme,please,\"Isaid,\"istherenotawaybywhichtoavoidthechannelsandthedenofmonsters？\"
\"Thereisaneasywayacrosstheriver—bed,whichIwillshowyou,\"
sheanswered;\"butyoumustpassoncemorethroughthemonsters。\"
\"Ifearforthechildren,\"Isaid。
\"Fearwillnotoncecomenighthem,\"sherejoined。
Weleftthecottage。Thebeastsstoodwaitingaboutthedoor。Oduwasalreadyontheneckofoneofthetwothatweretocarrytheprincess。ImountedLona\'shorse;Marabroughtherbody,andgaveitmeinmyarms。Whenshecameoutagainwiththeprincess,acryofdelightarosefromthechildren:shewasnolongermuffled！
Gazingather,andentrancedwithherloveliness,theboysforgottoreceivetheprincessfromher;buttheelephantstookLilithtenderlywiththeirtrunks,oneroundherbodyandoneroundherknees,and,Marahelping,laidheralongbetweenthem。
\"Whydoestheprincesswanttogo？\"askedasmallboy。\"Shewouldkeepgoodifshestaidhere！\"
\"Shewantstogo,andshedoesnotwanttogo:wearehelpingher,\"
answeredMara。\"Shewillnotkeepgoodhere。\"
\"Whatareyouhelpinghertodo？\"hewenton。
\"Togowhereshewillgetmorehelp——helptoopenherhand,whichhasbeenclosedforathousandyears。\"
\"Solong？Thenshehaslearnedtodowithoutit:whyshouldsheopenitnow？\"
\"Becauseitisshutuponsomethingthatisnothers。\"
\"Please,ladyMara,maywehavesomeofyourverydrybreadbeforewego？\"saidLuva。
Marasmiled,andbroughtthemfourloavesandagreatjugofwater。
\"Wewilleataswego,\"theysaid。Buttheydrankthewaterwithdelight。
\"Ithink,\"remarkedoneofthem,\"itmustbeelephant—juice！Itmakesmesostrong！\"
Wesetout,theLadyofSorrowwalkingwithus,morebeautifulthanthesun,andthewhiteleopardessfollowingher。Ithoughtshemeantbuttoputusinthepathacrossthechannels,butIsoonfoundshewasgoingwithusalltheway。ThenIwouldhavedismountedthatshemightride,butshewouldnotletme。
\"Ihavenoburdentocarry,\"shesaid。\"ThechildrenandIwillwalktogether。\"
Itwastheloveliestofmornings;thesunshonehisbrightest,andthewindblewhissweetest,buttheydidnotcomfortthedesert,forithadnowater。
Wecrossedthechannelswithoutdifficulty,thechildrengambolingaboutMaraalltheway,butdidnotreachthetopoftheridgeoverthebadburrowuntilthesunwasalreadyintheactofdisappearing。
ThenImadetheLittleOnesmounttheirelephants,forthemoonmightbelate,andIcouldnothelpsomeanxietyaboutthem。
TheLadyofSorrownowledthewaybymyside;theelephantsfollowed——thetwothatboretheprincessinthecentre;theleopardessbroughtuptherear;andjustaswereachedthefrightfulmargin,themoonlookedupandshowedtheshallowbasinlyingbeforeusuntroubled。Marasteppedintoit;notamovementansweredhertreadorthefeetofmyhorse。Butthemomentthattheelephantscarryingtheprincesstouchedit,theseeminglysolidearthbegantoheaveandboil,andthewholedreadbroodofthehellishnestwascommoved。Monstersuproseonallsides,everyneckatfulllength,everybeakandclawoutstretched,everymouthagape。Long—billedheads,horriblyjawedfaces,knottytentaclesinnumerable,wentoutafterLilith。Shelayinanagonyoffear,nordaredstirafinger。
Whetherthehideousthingsevensawthechildren,Idoubt;certainlynotoneofthemtouchedachild;notoneloathlymemberpassedtheliverampartofherbody—guard,tolayholdofher。
\"LittleOnes,\"Icried,\"keepyourelephantscloseabouttheprincess。Bebrave;theywillnottouchyou。\"
\"Whatwillnottouchus？Wedon\'tknowwhattobebraveat！\"theyanswered;andIperceivedtheywereunawareofoneofthedeformitiesaroundthem。
\"Nevermindthen,\"Ireturned;\"onlykeepclose。\"
Theywerepanopliedintheirblindness！Incapacitytoseewastheirsafety。Whattheycouldnowisebeawareof,couldnothurtthem。
ButthehideousformsIsawthatnight！Marawasafewpacesinfrontofmewhenasolitary,bodilessheadbouncedonthepathbetweenus。Theleopardesscamerushingundertheelephantsfrombehind,andwouldhaveseizedit,but,withfrightfulcontortionsofvisageandaloathsomehowl,itgaveitselfarapidrotatorytwist,sprangfromher,andburieditselfintheground。Thedeathinmyarmsassoilingmefromfear,Iregardedthemallunmoved,althoughnever,sure,waselsewherebeheldsuchacrewaccursed！
Marastillwentinfrontofme,andtheleopardessnowwalkedclosebehindher,shiveringoften,foritwasverycold,whensuddenlythegroundbeforemetomyleftbegantoheave,andalowwaveofearthcameslinkingtowardus。Itrosehigherasitdrewhear;outofitslouchedadreadfulheadwithfleshytubesforhair,andopeningagreatovalmouth,snappedatme。Theleopardesssprang,butfellbaffledbeyondit。
Almostunderourfeet,shotuptheheadofanenormoussnake,withalampingwallowingglareinitseyes。Againtheleopardessrushedtotheattack,butfoundnothing。Atathirdmonstershedartedwithlikefury,andlikefailure——thensullenlyceasedtoheedthephantom—horde。ButIunderstoodtheperilandhastenedthecrossing——theratherthatthemoonwascarryingherselfstrangely。
Evenassherosesheseemedreadytodropandgiveuptheattemptashopeless;andsince,Isawhersinkbackoncefullyherownbreadth。Thearcshemadewasverylow,andnowshehadbeguntodescendrapidly。
Wewerealmostover,when,betweenusandtheborderofthebasin,arosealongneck,onthetopofwhich,liketheblossomofsomeStygianlily,satwhatseemedtheheadofacorpse,itsmouthhalfopen,andfullofcanineteeth。Iwenton;itretreated,thendrewaside。Theladysteppedonthefirmland,buttheleopardessbetweenus,rousedoncemore,turned,andflewatthethroatoftheterror。IremainedwhereIwastoseetheelephants,withtheprincessandthechildren,safeonthebank。ThenIturnedtolookaftertheleopardess。Thatmomentthemoonwentdown,ForaninstantIsawtheleopardessandthesnake—monsterconvolvedinacloudofdust;thendarknesshidthem。Tremblingwithfright,myhorsewheeled,andinthreeboundsovertooktheelephants。
Aswecameupwiththem,ashapelessjellydroppedontheprincess。
Awhitedovedroppedimmediatelyonthejelly,stabbingitwithitsbeak。Itmadeasquelching,suckingsound,andfelloff。ThenI
heardthevoiceofawomantalkingwithMara,andIknewthevoice。
\"Ifearsheisdead！\"saidMara。
\"Iwillsendandfindher,\"answeredthemother。\"Butwhy,Mara,shouldstthouatallfearforherorforanyone？Deathcannothurtherwhodiesdoingtheworkgivenhertodo。\"
\"Ishallmisshersorely;sheisgoodandwise。YetIwouldnothaveherlivebeyondherhour！\"
\"Shehasgonedownwiththewicked;shewillrisewiththerighteous。
Weshallseeheragainereverylong。\"
\"Mother,\"Isaid,althoughIdidnotseeher,\"wecometoyoumany,butmostofusareLittleOnes。Willyoubeabletoreceiveusall？\"
\"Youarewelcomeeveryone,\"sheanswered。\"Soonerorlaterallwillbelittleones,forallmustsleepinmyhouse！Itiswellwiththosethatgotosleepyoungandwilling！——MyhusbandisevennowpreparinghercouchforLilith。Sheisneitheryoungnorquitewilling,butitiswellindeedthatsheiscome。\"
Iheardnomore。Motheranddaughterhadgoneawaytogetherthroughthedark。Butwesawalightinthedistance,andtowarditwewentstumblingoverthemoor。
Adamstoodinthedoor,holdingthecandletoguideus,andtalkingwithhiswife,who,behindhim,laidbreadandwineonthetablewithin。
\"Happychildren,\"Iheardhersay,\"tohavelookedalreadyonthefaceofmydaughter！Surelyitistheloveliestinthegreatworld！\"
Whenwereachedthedoor,Adamwelcomedusalmostmerrily。Hesetthecandleonthethreshold,andgoingtotheelephants,wouldhavetakentheprincesstocarryherin;butsherepulsedhim,andpushingherelephantsasunder,stooderectbetweenthem。Theywalkedfrombesideher,andleftherwithhimwhohadbeenherhusband——ashamedindeedofhergauntuncomeliness,butunsubmissive。
Hestoodwithawelcomeinhiseyesthatshonethroughtheirseverity。
\"Wehavelongwaitedforthee,Lilith！\"hesaid。
Shereturnedhimnoanswer。
Eveandherdaughtercametothedoor。
\"Themortalfoeofmychildren！\"murmuredEve,standingradiantinherbeauty。
\"Yourchildrenarenolongerinherdanger,\"saidMara;\"shehasturnedfromevil。\"
\"Trusthernothastily,Mara,\"answeredhermother;\"shehasdeceivedamultitude！\"
\"ButyouwillopentoherthemirroroftheLawofLiberty,mother,thatshemaygointoit,andabideinit！Sheconsentstoopenherhandandrestore:willnotthegreatFatherrestorehertoinheritancewithHisotherchildren？\"
\"IdonotknowHim！\"murmuredLilith,inavoiceoffearanddoubt。
\"Thereforeitisthatthouartmiserable,\"saidAdam。
\"IwillgobackwhenceIcame！\"shecried,andturned,wringingherhands,todepart。
\"ThatisindeedwhatIwouldhavetheedo,whereIwouldhavetheego——toHimfromwhomthoucamest！InthyagonydidstthounotcryoutforHim？\"
\"IcriedoutforDeath——toescapeHimandthee！\"
\"DeathisevennowonhiswaytoleadtheetoHim。ThouknowestneitherDeathnortheLifethatdwellsinDeath！Bothbefriendthee。
Iamdead,andwouldseetheedead,forIliveandlovethee。Thouartwearyandheavy—laden:artthounotashamed？Isnotthebeingthouhastcorruptedbecometotheeatlengthanevilthing？Wouldstthouyetliveonindisgraceeternal？Ceasethoucanstnot:wiltthounotberestoredandBE？\"
Shestoodsilentwithbowedhead。
\"Father,\"saidMara,\"takeherinthinearms,andcarryhertohercouch。Thereshewillopenherhand,anddieintolife。\"
\"Iwillwalk,\"saidtheprincess。
Adamturnedandledtheway。Theprincesswalkedfeeblyafterhimintothecottage。
ThenEvecameouttomewhereIsatwithLonainmybosom。Shereachedupherarms,tookherfromme,andcarriedherin。I
dismounted,andthechildrenalso。Thehorseandtheelephantsstoodshivering;Marapattedandstrokedthemeveryone;theylaydownandfellasleep。Sheledusintothecottage,andgavetheLittleOnesofthebreadandwineonthetable。AdamandLilithwerestandingtheretogether,butsilentboth。
Evecamefromthechamberofdeath,whereshehadlaidLonadown,andofferedofthebreadandwinetotheprincess。
\"Thybeautyslaysme！ItisdeathIwouldhave,notfood！\"saidLilith,andturnedfromher。
\"Thisfoodwillhelptheetodie,\"answeredEve。
ButLilithwouldnottasteofit。
\"Ifthouwiltnoreatnordrink,Lilith,\"saidAdam,\"comeandseetheplacewherethoushaltlieinpeace。\"
Heledthewaythroughthedoorofdeath,andshefollowedsubmissive。Butwhenherfootcrossedthethresholdshedrewitback,andpressedherhandtoherbosom,struckthroughwiththecoldimmortal。
Awildblastfellroaringontheroof,anddiedawayinamoan。
Shestoodghastlywithterror。
\"Itishe！\"saidhervoicelesslips:Ireadtheirmotion。
\"Who,princess！\"Iwhispered。
\"ThegreatShadow,\"shemurmured。
\"Herehecannotenter,\"saidAdam。\"Herehecanhurtnoone。Overhimalsoispowergivenme。\"
\"Arethechildreninthehouse？\"askedLilith,andatthewordtheheartofEvebegantoloveher。
\"Heneverdaredtouchachild,\"shesaid。\"Norhaveyoueithereverhurtachild。Yourowndaughteryouhavebutsentintotheloveliestsleep,forshewasalreadyalongtimedeadwhenyouslewher。AndnowDeathshallbetheatonemaker;youshallsleeptogether。\"
\"Wife,\"saidAdam,\"letusfirstputthechildrentobed,thatshemayseethemsafe！\"
Hecamebacktofetchthem。Assoonashewasgone,theprincessknelttoEve,claspedherknees,andsaid,\"BeautifulEve,persuadeyourhusbandtokillme:toyouhewilllisten！IndeedIwouldbutcannotopenmyhand。\"
\"Youcannotdiewithoutopeningit。Tokillyouwouldnotserveyou,\"answeredEve。\"Butindeedhecannot！noonecankillyoubuttheShadow;andwhomhekillsneverknowssheisdead,butlivestodohiswill,andthinkssheisdoingherown。\"
\"Showmethentomygrave;IamsowearyIcanlivenolonger。I
mustgototheShadow——yetIwouldnot！\"
Shedidnot,couldnotunderstand！
Shestruggledtorise,butfellatthefeetofEve。TheMotherlifted,andcarriedherinward。
IfollowedAdamandMaraandthechildrenintothechamberofdeath。
WepassedEvewithLilithinherarms,andwentfartherin。
\"YoushallnotgototheShadow,\"IheardEvesay,aswepassedthem。\"Evennowishisheadundermyheel！\"
ThedimlightinAdam\'shandglimmeredonthesleepingfaces,andashewenton,thedarknessclosedoverthem。Theveryairseemeddead:wasitbecausenoneofthesleepersbreathedit？Profoundestsleepfilledthewideplace。ItwasasifnotonehadwakedsincelastIwasthere,fortheformsIhadthennotedlaytherestill。
MyfatherwasjustasIhadlefthim,savethatheseemedyetnearertoaperfectpeace。Thewomanbesidehimlookedyounger。
Thedarkness,thecold,thesilence,thestillair,thefacesofthelovelydead,madetheheartsofthechildrenbeatsoftly,buttheirlittletongueswouldtalk——withlow,hushedvoices。
\"Whatacuriousplacetosleepin！\"saidone,\"Iwouldratherbeinmynest！\"
\"ItisSOcold！\"saidanother。
\"Yes,itiscold,\"answeredourhost;\"butyouwillnotbecoldinyoursleep。\"
\"Whereareournests？\"askedmorethanone,lookingroundandseeingnocouchunoccupied。
\"Findplaces,andsleepwhereyouchoose,\"repliedAdam。
Instantlytheyscattered,advancingfearlesslybeyondthelight,butwestillheardtheirgentlevoices,anditwasplaintheysawwhereIcouldnot。
\"Oh,\"criedone,\"hereissuchabeautifullady！——mayIsleepbesideher？Iwillcreepinquietly,andnotwakeher。\"
\"Yes,youmay,\"answeredthevoiceofEvebehindus;andwecametothecouchwhilethelittlefellowwasyetcreepingslowlyandsoftlyunderthesheet。Helaidhisheadbesidethelady\'s,lookedupatus,andwasstill。Hiseyelidsfell;hewasasleep。
Wewentalittlefarther,andtherewasanotherwhohadclimbeduponthecouchofawoman。
\"Mother！mother！\"hecried,kneelingoverher,hisfaceclosetohers。\"——She\'ssocoldshecan\'tspeak,\"hesaid,lookinguptous;
\"butIwillsoonmakeherwarm！\"
Helaydown,andpressingclosetoher,puthislittlearmoverher。
Inaninstanthetoowasasleep,smilinganabsolutecontent。
WecametoathirdLittleOne;itwasLuva。Shestoodontiptoe,leaningovertheedgeofacouch。
\"Myownmotherwouldn\'thaveme,\"shesaidsoftly:\"willyou？\"
Receivingnoreply,shelookedupatEve。Thegreatmotherliftedhertothecouch,andshegotatonceunderthesnowycovering。
EachoftheLittleOneshadbythistime,exceptthreeoftheboys,foundatleastanunobjectingbedfellow,andlaystillandwhitebesideastill,whitewoman。Thelittleorphanshadadoptedmothers！Onetinygirlhadchosenafathertosleepwith,andthatwasmine。Aboylaybythesideofthebeautifulmatronwiththeslow—healinghand。Onthemiddleoneofthethreecoucheshithertounoccupied,layLona。
EvesetLilithdownbesideit。AdampointedtothevacantcouchonLona\'srighthand,andsaid,\"There,Lilith,isthebedIhavepreparedforyou！\"
Sheglancedatherdaughterlyingbeforeherlikeastatuecarvedinsemi—transparentalabaster,andshudderedfromheadtofoot。\"Howcolditis！\"shemurmured。
\"Youwillsoonbegintofindcomfortinthecold,\"answeredAdam。
\"Promisestothedyingareeasy！\"shesaid。
\"ButIknowit:Itoohaveslept。Iamdead！\"
\"Ibelievedyoudeadlongago;butIseeyoualive！\"
\"Morealivethanyouknow,orareabletounderstand。Iwasscarcealivewhenfirstyouknewme。NowIhaveslept,andamawake;Iamdead,andliveindeed！\"
\"Ifearthatchild,\"shesaid,pointingtoLona:\"shewillriseandterrifyme！\"
\"Sheisdreaminglovetoyou。\"
\"ButtheShadow！\"shemoaned;\"IfeartheShadow！hewillbewrothwithme！\"
\"Heatsightofwhomthehorsesofheavenstartandrear,daresnotdisturbonedreaminthisquietchamber！\"
\"Ishalldreamthen？\"
\"Youwilldream。\"
\"Whatdreams？\"
\"ThatIcannottell,butnoneHEcanenterinto。WhentheShadowcomeshere,itwillbetoliedownandsleepalso。——Hishourwillcome,andheknowsitwill。\"
\"HowlongshallIsleep？\"
\"Youandhewillbethelasttowakeinthemorningoftheuniverse。\"
Theprincesslaydown,drewthesheetoverher,stretchedherselfoutstraight,andlaystillwithopeneyes。
Adamturnedtohisdaughter。Shedrewnear。
\"Lilith,\"saidMara,\"youwillnotsleep,ifyouliethereathousandyears,untilyouhaveopenedyourhand,andyieldedthatwhichisnotyourstogiveortowithhold。\"
\"Icannot,\"sheanswered。\"IwouldifIcould,andgladly,forI
amweary,andtheshadowsofdeatharegatheringaboutme。\"
\"Theywillgatherandgather,buttheycannotinfoldyouwhileyetyourhandremainsunopened。Youmaythinkyouaredead,butitwillbeonlyadream;youmaythinkyouhavecomeawake,butitwillstillbeonlyadream。Openyourhand,andyouwillsleepindeed——thenwakeindeed。\"
\"Iamtryinghard,butthefingershavegrowntogetherandintothepalm。\"
\"Iprayyouputforththestrengthofyourwill。Fortheloveoflife,drawtogetheryourforcesandbreakitsbonds！\"
\"Ihavestruggledinvain;Icandonomore。Iamveryweary,andsleepliesheavyuponmylids。\"
\"Themomentyouopenyourhand,youwillsleep。Openit,andmakeanend。\"
Atingeofcolouraroseintheparchment—likeface;thecontortedhandtrembledwithagonisedeffort。Maratookit,andsoughttoaidher。
\"Hold,Mara！\"criedherfather。\"Thereisdanger！\"
TheprincessturnedhereyesuponEve,beseechingly。
\"TherewasaswordIoncesawinyourhusband\'shands,\"shemurmured。
\"IfledwhenIsawit。Iheardhimwhoboreitsayitwoulddividewhateverwasnotoneandindivisible！\"
\"Ihavethesword,\"saidAdam。\"Theangelgaveitmewhenheleftthegate。\"
\"Bringit,Adam,\"pleadedLilith,\"andcutmeoffthishandthatI
maysleep。\"
\"Iwill,\"heanswered。
HegavethecandletoEve,andwent。Theprincessclosedhereyes。
InafewminutesAdamreturnedwithanancientweaponinhishand。
Thescabbardlookedlikevellumgrowndarkwithyears,butthehiltshonelikegoldthatnothingcouldtarnish。Hedrewouttheblade。
Itflashedlikeapalebluenorthernstreamer,andthelightofitmadetheprincessopenhereyes。Shesawthesword,shuddered,andheldoutherhand。Adamtookit。Theswordgleamedonce,therewasonelittlegushofblood,andhelaidtheseveredhandinMara\'slap。Lilithhadgivenonemoan,andwasalreadyfastasleep。Maracoveredthearmwiththesheet,andthethreeturnedaway。
\"Willyounotdressthewound？\"Isaid。
\"Awoundfromthatsword,\"answeredAdam,\"needsnodressing。Itishealingandnothurt。\"
\"Poorlady！\"Isaid,\"shewillwakewithbutonehand！\"
\"Wherethedeaddeformityclung,\"repliedMara,\"thetrue,lovelyhandisalreadygrowing。\"
Weheardachildishvoicebehindus,andturnedagain。ThecandleinEve\'shandshoneonthesleepingfaceofLilith,andthewakingfacesofthethreeLittleOnes,groupedontheothersideofhercouch。
\"Howbeautifulsheisgrown！\"saidoneofthem。
\"Poorprincess！\"saidanother;\"Iwillsleepwithher。Shewillnotbiteanymore！\"
Ashespokeheclimbedintoherbed,andwasimmediatelyfastasleep。
Evecoveredhimwiththesheet。
\"Iwillgoonherotherside,\"saidthethird。\"Sheshallhavetwotokissherwhenshewakes！\"
\"AndIamleftalone！\"saidthefirstmournfully。
\"Iwillputyoutobed,\"saidEve。
Shegavethecandletoherhusband,andledthechildaway。
Weturnedoncemoretogobacktothecottage。Iwasverysad,fornoonehadofferedmeaplaceinthehouseofthedead。Evejoinedusaswewent,andwalkedonbeforewithherhusband。MarabymysidecarriedthehandofLilithinthelapofherrobe。
\"Ah,youhavefoundher！\"weheardEvesayaswesteppedintothecottage。
Thedoorstoodopen;twoelephant—trunkscamethroughitoutofthenightbeyond。
\"Isentthemwiththelantern,\"shewentontoherhusband,\"tolookforMara\'sleopardess:theyhavebroughther。\"
IfollowedAdamtothedoor,andbetweenuswetookthewhitecreaturefromtheelephants,andcarriedhertothechamberwehadjustleft,thewomenprecedingus,Evewiththelight,andMarastillcarryingthehand。Therewelaidthebeautyacrossthefeetoftheprincess,herfore—pawsoutstretched,andherheadcouchingbetweenthem。