Egypt.  I used to feel that, when I was queen:  sometimes I had to carve gods, for company, all over my palace.  I would fain have seen real ones, if I could.

L. But listen a moment yet, for that was not quite all my dream.  The twilight drew swiftly to the dark, and I could hardly see the great pyramid; when there came a heavy murmuring sound in the air; and a horned beetle, with terrible claws, fell on the sand at my feet, with a blow like the beat of a hammer.  Then it stood up on its hind claws, and waved its pincers at me:  and its fore claws became strong arms, and hands; one grasping real iron pincers, and the other a huge hammer; and it had a helmet on its head, without any eyelet holes, that I could see.  And its two hind claws became strong crooked legs, with feet bent inwards.  And so there stood by me a dwarf, in glossy black armor, ribbed and embossed like a beetle’s back, leaning on his hammer.  And I could not speak for wonder; but he spoke with a murmur like the dying away of a beat upon a bell.  He said, “I will make Neith’s great pyramid small.  I am the lower Pthah; and have power over fire.  I can wither the strong things, and strengthen the weak; and everything that is great I can make small, and everything that is little I can make great.”  Then he turned to the angle of the pyramid and limped towards it.  And the pyramid grew deep purple; and then red like blood, and then pale rose-color, like fire.  And I saw that it glowed with fire from within.  And the lower Pthah touched it with the hand that held the pincers; and it sank down like the sand in an hour-glass,—­then drew itself together, and sank, still, and became nothing, it seemed to me; but the armed dwarf stooped down, and took it into his hand, and brought it to me, saying, “Everything that is great I can make like this pyramid; and give into men’s hands to destroy.”  And I saw that he had a little pyramid in his hand, with as many courses in it as the large one; and built like that,—­only so small.  And because it glowed still, I was afraid to touch it; but Pthah said, “Touch it—­for I have bound the fire within it, so that it cannot burn.”  So I touched it, and took it into my own hand; and it was cold; only red, like a ruby.  And Pthah laughed, and became like a beetle again, and buried himself in the sand, fiercely; throwing it back over his shoulders.  And it seemed to me as if he would draw me down with him into the sand; and I started back, and woke, holding the little pyramid so fast in my hand that it hurt me.

Egypt.  Holding what in your hand?

L. The little pyramid.

Egypt.  Neith’s pyramid?

L. Neith’s, I believe; though not built for Asychis.  I know only that it is a little rosy transparent pyramid, built of more courses of bricks than I can count, it being made so small.  You don’t believe me, of course, Egyptian infidel; but there it is.  (Giving crystal of rose Fluor.)