n entrance of Lysidice through the curtained portal. Lycabetta
questioned her, frowning.

"Why do you come here?"

Lysidice answered, hurriedly:

"There is one outside muffled like oblivion, whose command is to see you
in the King's name."

Lycabetta gave a cry of joy.

"It is the King! Admit him. Wait!" She turned to Perpetua. "You shall
have leisure, my woodfinch, to grow wise in. School yourself into
submission ere I send for you again."

Perpetua folded her arms across her breast.

"I am as changeless as the sun," she said, proudly.

"The sun sets," Lycabetta sneered.

"Ay," Perpetua answered, "to rise again in heaven."

Chafing at the girl's obstinacy, Lycabetta clapped her hands and the
black slaves entered.

"Take her away," she commanded, pointing to Perpetua.

Zal and Rustum seized Perpetua, who, knowing herself powerless, offered
no vain resistance, and drew her through the curtained space behind the
statue of Venus, and thence to a more distant room, in which they left
her in darkness and alone.

The darkness was full of strange perfumes--full of strange sounds. To a
child of the mountains, bred in the perfect mountain air, the heavy
odors of the House of Pleasure were nauseating, almost insupportable.
Below in the garden a woman's voice sang softly in Sicilian the song of
the "Two-and-Twenty Subtle Caresses." Women listened to it and laughed,
for the only sounds that floated up were the sounds of women's voices.
Perpetua put her hands over her ears and shuddered. She had come to
womanhood sanely, sweetly, innocent, not ignorant, and she knew that the
world of the valley was not the world of the hill. But it hurt her to
the heart that any world could make such use of women, and she knew the
fate that was meant to wait for her in the hateful place. But she knew
no fear, not even the fear of death. She prayed once and no more; she
was not one to weary Heaven with vain repetition. Then she waited in
patience for the moment when she should hear again the footsteps outside
the fastened door.

IX

THE LILY OF SICILY

As soon as Perpetua was withdrawn, Lycabetta turned to Lysidice.
"Entreat the King to enter," she commanded. To her surprise Lysidice
made no move, but stood staring at Lycabetta with bright eyes of wonder.

"Why do you linger?" Lycabetta shrilled at her minion. The slight child
answered, timidly:

"Daughter of the gods, I am amazed."

Lycabetta frowned.

"What amaze