AYESHA UNVEILS.
"There," said _i_ She _i_ , "he has gone, the white-bearded old fool! Ah, how little knowledge does a man acquire in his life.He gathereth it up like water, but like water it runneth through his fingers, and yet, if his hands be but wet as though with dew, behold a generation of fools call out, 'See, he is a wise man!' Is it not so? But how call they thee?
'Baboon,' he says," and she laughed; "but that is the fashion of these savages who lack imagination, and fly to the beasts they resemble for a name.How do they call thee in thine own country, stranger?""They call me Holly, O queen," I answered.
"Holly," she answered, speaking the word with difficulty, and yet with a most charming accent; "and what is Holly?""'Holly' is a prickly tree," I said.
"So.Well, thou hast a prickly and yet a treelike look.Strong art thou, and ugly, but, if my wisdom be not at fault, honest at the core, and a staff to lean on.Also one who thinks.But stay, O Holly, stand not there, enter with me and be seated by me.I would not see thee crawl before me like those slaves.I am weary of their worship and their terror; sometimes when they vex me I could blast them for very sport, and to see the rest turn white, even to the heart." And she held the curtain aside with her ivory hand to let me pass in.
I entered, shuddering.This woman was very terrible.
Within the curtains was a recess, about twelve feet by ten, and in the recess was a couch and a table whereon stood fruit and sparkling water.By it, at its end, was a vessel like a font cut in carved stone, also full of pure water.The place was softly lit with lamps formed out of the beautiful vessels of which Ihave spoken, and the air and curtains were laden with a subtle perfume.Perfume too seemed to emanate from the glorious hair and white, clinging vestments of _i_She _i_ herself.I entered the little room, and there stood uncertain.
"Sit," said _i_ She _i_ , pointing to the couch."As yet thou hast no cause to fear me.If thou hast cause, thou shalt not fear for long, for I shall slay thee.