Oh, the dazzling smile with which he accompanied this poignant question! ... the pitiless, burning ardor he managed to convey into the sleeping brilliancy of his soft, poetic eyes! ... the beautiful languor of his attitude, as leaning his head back easily on one arm, he turned upon the shrinking girl a look that seemed intended to pierce into the very inmost recesses of her soul!  The roseate color faded from her cheeks, . . white as a marble image she stood, her breath coming between her lips in quick, frightened gasps...

“My lord! ...” she stammered ...  “I ...”  Here her voice failed her, and suddenly covering her face with her hands, she broke into a passion of weeping.  Sah-luma’s delicate brows darkened into a close frown,—­and he waved his hand with a petulant gesture of impatience.

“Ye gods! what fools are women!” he said wearily.  “Ever hovering uncertainly on a narrow verge between silly smiles and sillier tears!  As I live, they are most uncomfortable play-fellows!—­and dwelling with them long would drive all the inspiration out of man, no matter how nobly he were gifted!  Ye butterflies—­ye little fluttering souls!” and beginning to laugh as readily as he had frowned, he addressed the other maidens, who, though they did not dare to move or speak, were evidently affected by the grief of their companion—­“Go hence all!-and take this sensitive baby, Zoralin, into your charge, and console her for her fancied troubles—­’tis a mere frenzy of feminine weakness, and will pass like an April shower.  But, ... by the Sacred Veil!—­if I saw much of woman’s weeping, I would discard forever woman’s company, and dwell in peaceful hermit fashion alone among the treetops! ... so heed the warning, pretty ones! ...  Let me witness none of your tears if ye are wise,—­or else say farewell to Sah-luma, and seek some less easy and less pleasing service!”

With this injunction he signed to them all to depart,—­whereupon the awed and trembling girls noiselessly surrounded the still convulsively sobbing Zoralin, and gently leading her away, they quickly withdrew, each one making a profound obeisance to their imperious master ere leaving his presence.  When they had finally disappeared Sah-luma heaved a sigh of relief.

“Can anything equal the perverseness of these frivolous feminine toys!” he murmured pettishly, turning his head round toward Theos as he spoke—­“Was ever a more foolish child than Zoralin? ...  Just as I would fain have consoled her for her pricking heartache, she must needs pour out a torrent of tear-drops to change my humor and quench her own delight!  ’Tis the most irksome inconsistency!”

Theos glanced at him with a vague emotion of wonder and self-reproachful sadness.

“Nay, wouldst thou indeed have consoled her, Sah-luma?” he inquired gravely, “How?”