oves herself," answered
Hekt. "As the poets say, 'she is full of him.' It is really true of her,
there is no room for any thing else. She cares for one only, and woe to
those who come between him and her!"

"I have seen other women in love," said Nemu, "but--"

"But," exclaimed the old witch with such a sharp laugh that the girls all
looked up, "they behaved differently to Nefert--I believe you, for there
is not one in a thousand that loves as she does. It is a sickness that
gives raging pain--like a poisoned arrow in an open wound, and devours
all that is near it like a fire-brand, and is harder to cure than the
disease which is killing that coughing wench. To be possessed by that
demon of anguish is to suffer the torture of the damned--or else," and
her voice sank to softness, "to be more blest than the Gods, happy as
they are. I know--I know it all; for I was once one of the possessed, one
of a thousand, and even now--"

"Well?" asked the dwarf.

"Folly!" muttered the witch, stretching herself as if awaking from sleep.
"Madness! He--is long since dead, and if he were not it would be all the
same to me. All men are alike, and Mena will be like the rest."

"But Paaker surely is governed by the demon you describe?" asked the
dwarf.

"May be," replied his mother; "but he is self-willed to madness. He would
simply give his life for the thing because it is denied him. If your
mistress Nefert were his, perhaps he might be easier; but what is the use
of chattering? I must go over to the gold tent, where everyone goes now
who has any money in their purse, to speak to the mistress--"

"What do you want with her?" interrupted Nemu. "Little Uarda over there,"
said the old woman, "will soon be quite well again. You have seen her
lately; is she not grown beautiful, wonderfully beautiful? Now I shall
see what the good woman will offer me if I take Uarda to her? the girl is
as light-footed as a gazelle, and with good training would learn to dance
in a very few weeks."

Nemu turned perfectly white.

"That you shall not do," said he positively.

"And why not?" asked the old woman, "if it pays well."

"Because I forbid it," said the dwarf in a choked voice.

"Bless me," laughed the woman; "you want to play my lady Nefert, and
expect me to take the part of her mother Katuti. But, seriously, having
seen the child again, have you any fancy for her?"

"Yes," replied Nemu. "If we gain our end, Katuti will make me free, and
m