er father, the
artist, had showed her the superb brilliancy which colours gained at
this hour of the day, even when the west was less radiant than now. But
Barine, who usually could never gaze her fill at such a spectacle, did
not thank her, for this sunset reminded her of another which she had
lately watched at Dion's side, and she again broke into convulsive sobs.

Charmian, not knowing what to do, passed her arm around her. Just at
that moment the door was hurriedly thrown open, and Anukis, the Nubian,
entered.

Her mistress knew that something unusual must have happened to detain
her so long from her post at Barine's side, and her appearance showed
that she had been attending to important matters which had severely
taxed her strength. Her shining dark skin looked ashen grey, her
high forehead, surrounded by tangled woolly locks, was dripping with
perspiration, and her thick lips were pale. Although she must have
undergone great fatigue, she did not seem in need of rest; for, after
greeting the ladies, apologizing for her long absence, and telling
Barine that this time Dion had seemed to her half on the way to
recovery, a rapid side glance at her mistress conveyed an entreaty that
she would follow her into the next room.

But the language of the Nubian's eyes had not escaped the suspicious
watchfulness of the anxious Barine and, overwhelmed with fresh terror,
she begged that she might hear all.

Charmian ordered her maid to speak openly; but Anukis, ere she began,
assured them that she had received the news she brought from a
most trustworthy source--only it would make a heavy demand upon the
resolution and courage of Barine, whom she had hoped to find in a very
different mood. There was no time to lose. She was expected at the
appointed place an hour after sunset.

Here Charmian interrupted the maid with the exclamation "Impossible!"
and reminded her of the guards which Alexas, aided by Iras, who was
thoroughly familiar with the palace, had stationed the day before in the
anteroom, at all the doors--nay, even beneath the windows.

The Nubian replied that everything had been considered; but, to gain
time, she must beg Barine to let her colour her skin and curl her hair
while she was talking.

The surprise visible in the young beauty's face caused her to exclaim:
"Only act with entire confidence. You shall learn everything directly.
There is so much to tell! On the way here I had planned how to relate
the who