d surely be taking their departure soon. Should she go
too, or should she go back in all humbleness to the man she loved? Did
he want her, having shown no sign or desire for her return? Did
he--did he not? A decision must be made, and soon, but what was it to
be? Round and round, like a flock of startled pigeons, went her
thoughts, one breaking away to whirr into the back of her mind, another
to drift into the shadows, and another, and yet another, whilst the
rest flew on, round and round!

And then she shrank back, gripping the stone with two cold little hands
as great drops gathered and trickled down her face, her breath coming
in silent gasps.

Stricken with terror she threw out her arms passionately.

"Speak, woman, speak! Spread the sand, and read to me what thou seest
therein. Thy finger shall point the way, and that way will I follow
wherever it may lead."

CHAPTER XLVIII

Whereupon the woman of the shadows, turning towards that which had once
been an altar, and raising her arms straight above her head with hands
out-turned at an acute angle, thrice repeated words that were
absolutely unintelligible to Jill.

And then kneeling, she spread the sand upon the ground, dividing it
into circles and squares, drawing curious signs with the tip of her
hand, which as Jill noticed was passing white and slender for that of a
peasant woman, and spoke--in modern tongue.

"Behold, O! woman, who emerged from a grey cloud to enter into the
radiance of the sun, thou art beloved by the gods who rule the earth
through the countless and eternal ages. Thou dost pause upon the
threshold of the temple of love, fearing these shadows which will pass
away when thou shalt stand within the great radiance of the goddess.
Yea! and fearful art thou of the sand out of which shall spring a tree
of many branches, and in the shade of which thou shalt encompass thy
life's span. Behold," and the finger drew a line upon the sand, "the
grey cloud encloses thee yet once again, and the goddess weeps without!
Yet will she rejoice! Before many moons have come and gone, the great
god Amen shall tear aside that which blindeth thee, and placing a man
son upon thy breast shall lead thee into the innermost temple.

"Six times shall Amen strike thee in love, so that thou bearest sons,
and once shall he strike thee upon both breasts so that a woman child
shall spring from thy loins.

"Love is thy portion, thy meat, and thy drink, bringi