re bask in the gardens of Elysium: amidst the asphodel and
the rose they prepare the garlands of thy sweet destiny, and the Fates,
so harsh to others, weave only for thee the web of happiness and love.
Wilt thou then come and behold thy doom, so that thou mayest enjoy it
beforehand?'

Again the heart of Ione murmured 'Glaucus'; she uttered a half-audible
assent; the Egyptian rose, and taking her by the hand, he led her across
the banquet-room--the curtains withdrew as by magic hands, and the music
broke forth in a louder and gladder strain; they passed a row of
columns, on either side of which fountains cast aloft their fragrant
waters; they descended by broad and easy steps into a garden. The eve
had commenced; the moon was already high in heaven, and those sweet
flowers that sleep by day, and fill, with ineffable odorous, the airs of
night, were thickly scattered amidst alleys cut through the star-lit
foliage; or, gathered in baskets, lay like offerings at the feet of the
frequent statues that gleamed along their path.

'Whither wouldst thou lead me, Arbaces?' said Ione, wonderingly.

'But yonder,' said he, pointing to a small building which stood at the
end of the vista. 'It is a temple consecrated to the Fates--our rites
require such holy ground.'

They passed into a narrow hall, at the end of which hung a sable
curtain. Arbaces lifted it; Ione entered, and found herself in total
darkness.

'Be not alarmed,' said the Egyptian, 'the light will rise instantly.'
While he so spoke, a soft, and warm, and gradual light diffused itself
around; as it spread over each object, Ione perceived that she was in an
apartment of moderate size, hung everywhere with black; a couch with
draperies of the same hue was beside her. In the centre of the room was
a small altar, on which stood a tripod of bronze. At one side, upon a
lofty column of granite, was a colossal head of the blackest marble,
which she perceived, by the crown of wheat-ears that encircled the brow,
represented the great Egyptian goddess. Arbaces stood before the altar:
he had laid his garland on the shrine, and seemed occupied with pouring
into the tripod the contents of a brazen vase; suddenly from that tripod
leaped into life a blue, quick, darting, irregular flame; the Egyptian
drew back to the side of Ione, and muttered some words in a language
unfamiliar to her ear; the curtain at the back of the altar waved
tremulously to and fro--it parted slowly, and