light movement undulated through his body, as the wave travels along
the cord. The old white dress, unseen for five-and-twenty years; some
intangible trick of motion or attitude in the wearer; the occasion and
circumstance recurring with such near similarity,--these and perhaps
other trifles combined to recall long-vanished Salome. She had stood
at that other wedding, just where Nurse was now,--bright, shapely,
sparkling-eyed, full of love for him. What a grisly contrast was
this!--Why had he thrown away that ardent, loving heart? How sweet and
comfortable might life have been to-day, with Salome his wife, and
sons and daughters at her side,--daughters beautiful as Gnulemah, sons
tall as Balder! But Hatred had been his chosen mistress, and dismal
was the progeny begotten on her! The pregnant existence that might
have been his, and the scars and barrenness which had actually
redounded to him, were symbolized in the remembered Salome and her of
to-day.

The brief reminiscence passed, leaving Manetho face to face with his
sacred duty. With the warning of the past in his ears and that of the
future before his eyes, did he step unrelenting across the threshold
of his crime? At all events he neither hesitated nor turned back. But
there was no triumph in his eyes, and his tones and manner were heavy
and mechanical; as though the Devil (having brought him thus far with
his own consent and knowledge) had now to compel a frozen soul in a
senseless body!

The service began, none the less hallowed for the lovers, because for
Manetho it was the solemn perversion of a sacred ceremony. His voice
labored through the perfumed air, and recoiled in broken echoes from
gloomy corners and deep-tinted walls. The encircling lamps glowed in
serried lines of various light; the fantastic incense-flame rustled
softly on the altar. The four figures seemed a group of phantoms,--a
momentary rich illusion of the eye. And save for their viewless souls,
what were they more? Earth is a phantom; but what we cannot grasp is
real and remains!--

The rite was over, the diamond gleamed from Gnulemah's finger, and the
priest with uplifted hands had bade man not part whom God had united.
Husband and wife gazed at each other with freshness and wonder in
their eyes; as having expected to see some change, and anew delighted
at finding more of themselves than ever!

Male and female pervades the universe, and marriage is the end and
fulfilment of creation. God