onged to none of these ideals, and marked her as a simple,
loving, perishable child of earth.

I gazed upon her marvellous beauty with a kind of religious veneration,
at once attracted by her womanly charm and awed by her god-like dignity,
yet with a strange, a divine state of repose and pure rapture in my
heart for which there is no name.

Would that the happiness, the bliss of looking upon her, of being near
her, might have lasted for ever!

I knew, however, that she would soon enter the grotto and be lost to me.
Should I speak? In this fraternal community what was there to prevent
it? Something held me back. Otare had said that the priestess was
isolated from the outer world during her year of office; but that was
only a general statement. Mine was a peculiar case. I was a stranger. I
did not belong to their world, and was not supposed to know the ins and
outs of their customs. Besides, why should custom stand between such a
love as mine and its object? Conventional propriety was for the pitiful
earth and its wretched abortive passions. Perhaps I should frighten her?
No, I did not believe it. In this golden land even the birds seemed
fearless. As well think to frighten an angel in Heaven.

While I was debating the question within myself she glanced into the
foliage where I was hidden. How my heart throbbed! I fancied that she
saw me, and trembled with emotion; but I was mistaken, for she turned
and walked towards the cavern.

Suddenly I remembered the alarming sound within the cave, and breaking
through the covert, called after her.

"Take care, take care! There is a wild beast in the grotto. I heard it
cry."

She looked round and started when she saw me. The surprise, visible on
her face, seemed to melt into recognition.

"It is kind of you to warn me," she responded with a frank smile, "but I
am not in danger. There is no wild animal inside."

Her low sweet voice was quite in keeping with her beauty. Every note
rung clear and melodious as a bell.

"But the awful cry?" I rejoined with a puzzled air.

"Was that of a particular pet of mine," she answered laughingly.

"Pardon me," said I smiling for company, "I am a stranger here, as you
can see, and did not know any better."

"You are one of the travellers from another world, are you not?"

"Ah! you have heard of our arrival."

"Oh yes! An event so important was not kept from me. I saw you sitting
beside my father on the day of the Flower, and I knew