er and from the general behavior
of the people, that there was no express prohibition on my learning
anything, doing anything, or going anywhere; and so, after this, I
besought her to let me accompany her some time. But this too she
refused. My requests were often made, and as I learned more and more
of the language I was able to make them with more earnestness and
effect, until at length I succeeded in overcoming her objections.

"It is for your own sake," said she, "that I have refused, Atam-or. I
do not wish to lessen your happiness. But you must know all soon; and
so, if you wish to come with me and see what I have to do, why, you
may come the next jom."

This meant the next day, jom being the division of time corresponding
with our day. At this promise I was so full of gratitude that I forgot
all about the dark suggestiveness of her words. The next jom I arose
sooner than usual and went forth. I found Almah waiting for me. She
looked troubled, and greeted me with a mournful smile.

"You will find pain in this," said she; "but you wish it, and if you
still wish it, why, I will take you with me."

At this I only persisted the more, and so we set forth. We went
through the cavern passages. Few people were there; all seemed asleep.
Then we went out-of-doors and came into the full blaze of that day
which here knew no night, but prolonged itself into months. For a
while Almah stood looking forth between the trees to where the bright
sunlight sparkled on the sea, and then with a sigh she turned to
the left. I followed. On coming to the next portal she went in. I
followed, and found myself in a rough cavern, dark and forbidding.
Traversing this we came to an inner doorway, closed with a heavy mat.
This she raised, and passed through, while I went in after her.

I found myself in a vast cavern, full of dim, sparkling lights, which
served not to illuminate it, but merely to indicate its enormous
extent. Far above rose the vaulted roof, to a height of apparently a
hundred feet. Under this there was a lofty half-pyramid with stone
steps. All around, as far as I could see in the obscure light, there
were niches in the walls, each one containing a figure with a light
burning at its feet. I took them for statues. Almah pointed in silence
to one of these which was nearest, and I went up close so as to see
it.

The first glance that I took made me recoil with horror. It was no
statue that I saw in that niche, but a shrivelle