next ruined house where we found Inez lying on
the bed still clothed in her barbaric trappings, although the veil had
been drawn off her face. There she lay, wide-eyed and still, while the
women watched her. Ayesha looked at her a while, then said to me,

"So they tricked her out to be Ayesha's mock and image, and in time
accepted by those barbarians as my very self, and even set the seals
of royalty on her," and she pointed to the gold discs stamped with the
likeness of the sun. "Well, she is a fair maiden, white and gently bred,
the first such that I have seen for many an age. Nor did she wish this
trickery. Moreover she has taken no hurt; her soul has sunk deep into a
sea of horror and that is all, whence doubtless it can be drawn again.
Yet I think it best that for a while she should remember naught, lest
her brain break, as did her father's, and therefore no net of mine shall
drag her back to memory. Let that return gently in future days, and then
of it not too much, for so shall all this terror become to her a void in
which sad shapes move like shadows, and as shadows are soon forgot
and gone, no more to be held than dreams by the awakening sense. Stand
aside, Allan, and you women, leave us for a while."

I obeyed, and the women bowed and went. Then Ayesha drew up her veil,
and knelt down by the bed of Inez, but in such a fashion that I could
not see her face although I admit that I tried to do so. I could see,
however, that she set her lips against those of Inez and as I gathered
by her motions, seemed to breathe into her lips. Also she lifted her
hands and placing one of them upon the heart of Inez, for a minute or
more swayed the other from side to side above her eyes, pausing at times
to touch her upon the forehead with her finger-tips.

Presently Inez stirred and sat up, whereon Ayesha took a vessel of milk
which stood upon the floor and held it to her lips. Inez drank to the
last drop, then sank on to the bed again. For a while longer Ayesha
continued the motions of her hands, then let fall her veil and rose.

"Look, I have laid a spell upon her," she said, beckoning to me to draw
near.

I did so and perceived that now the eyes of Inez were shut and that she
seemed to be plunged in a deep and natural sleep.

"So she will remain for this night and that day which follows," said
Ayesha, "and when she wakes it will be, I think, to believe herself once
more a happy child. Not until she sees her home again w