ing intently but saying nothing. The Thin Woman could feel the
children like little, terrified birds pressing closely and very quietly
to her sides.

"Sir," said she, "tell me what is Beauty and what is Strength and what
is Ugliness? for, although I can see these things, I do not know what
they are."

"I will tell you that," he replied--"Beauty is Thought and Strength is
Love and Ugliness is Generation. The home of Beauty is the head of man.
The home of Strength is the heart of man, and in the loins Ugliness
keeps his dreadful state. If you come with me you shall know all
delight. You shall live unharmed in the flame of the spirit, and nothing
that is gross shall bind your limbs or hinder your thought. You shall
move as a queen amongst all raging passions without torment or despair.
Never shall you be driven or ashamed, but always you will choose your
own paths and walk with me in freedom and contentment and beauty."

"All things," said the Thin Woman, "must act according to the order of
their being, and so I say to Thought, if you hold me against my will
presently I will bind you against your will, for the holder of an
unwilling mate becomes the guardian and the slave of his captive."

"That is true," said he, "and against a thing that is true I cannot
contend; therefore, you are free from me, but from my brethren you are
not free."

The Thin Woman turned to the second man.

"You are Strength?" said she.

"I am Strength and Love," he boomed, "and with me there is safety and
peace; my days have honour and my nights quietness. There is no evil
thing walks near my lands, nor is any sound heard but the lowing of my
cattle, the songs of my birds and the laughter of my happy children.
Come then to me who gives protection and happiness and peace, and does
not fail or grow weary at any time."

"I will not go with you," said the Thin Woman, "for I am a mother and my
strength cannot be increased; I am a mother and my love cannot be added
to. What have I further to desire from thee, thou great man?"

"You are free of me," said the second man, "but from my brother you are
not free."

Then to the third man the Thin Woman addressed herself in terror, for to
that hideous one something cringed within her in an ecstasy of loathing.
That repulsion which at its strongest becomes attraction gripped her.
A shiver, a plunge, and she had gone, but the hands of the children
withheld her while in woe she abased herself before him.