s rather a greedy
little dog.

"You, too, like to eat, Bickley" (this was true, he had an excellent
appetite), "but when you have drunk the Life-water you will care much
less."

"I am glad to hear it," interrupted Bastin, "for Bickley wants a lot of
cooking done, and I find it tedious."

"You eat also, Lady," said Bickley.

"Yes, I eat sometimes because I like it, but I can go weeks and not
eat, when I have the Life-water. Just now, after so long a sleep, I am
hungry. Please give me some of that fruit. No, not the flesh, flesh I
hate."

We handed it to her. She took two plantains, peeled and ate them with
extraordinary grace. Indeed she reminded me, I do not know why, of some
lovely butterfly drawing its food from a flower.

While she ate she observed us closely; nothing seemed to escape the
quick glances of those beautiful eyes. Presently she said:

"What, O Humphrey, is that with which you fasten your neckdress?" and
she pointed to the little gold statue of Osiris that I used as a pin.

I told her that it was a statuette of a god named Osiris and very, very
ancient, probably quite five thousand years old, a statement at which
she smiled a little; also that it came from Egypt.

"Ah!" she answered, "is it so? I asked because we have figures that
are very like to that one, and they also hold in their hands a staff
surmounted by a loop. They are figures of Sleep's brother--Death."

"So is this," I said. "Among the Egyptians Osiris was the god of Death."

She nodded and replied that doubtless the symbol had come down to them.

"One day you shall take me to see this land which you call so very old.
Or I will take you, which would be quicker," she added.

We all bowed and said we should be delighted. Even Bastin appeared
anxious to revisit Egypt in such company, though when he was there
it seemed to bore him. But what she meant about taking us I could not
guess. Nor had we time to ask her, for she went on, watching our faces
as she spoke.

"The Lord Oro sends you a message, Strangers. He asks whether it is your
wish to see where we dwell. He adds that you are not to come if you do
not desire, or if you fear danger."

We all answered that there was nothing we should like better, but Bastin
added that he had already seen the tomb.

"Do you think, Bastin, that we live in a tomb because we slept there for
a while, awaiting the advent of you wanderers at the appointed hour?"

"I don't see where else it could