"
"And that will I also," I cried.
"What, my Holly!" she laughed aloud; "methought that thou wouldst naught
of length of days. Why, how is this?"
"Nay, I know not," I answered, "but there is that in my heart that
calleth me to taste of the flame and live."
"It is well," she said. "Thou art not altogether lost in folly. See now,
I will for the second time bathe me in this living bath. Fain would I
add to my beauty and my length of days if that be possible. If it be not
possible, at the least it cannot harm me.
"Also," she continued, after a momentary pause, "is there another and
a deeper cause why I would once again dip me in the flame. When first I
tasted of its virtue full was my heart of passion and of hatred of
that Egyptian Amenartas, and therefore, despite my strivings to be rid
thereof, have passion and hatred been stamped upon my soul from that sad
hour to this. But now it is otherwise. Now is my mood a happy mood, and
filled am I with the purest part of thought, and so would I ever be.
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