the sea upon the shores of Cyprus and dwelt at
Paphos and elsewhere----"

"Yes, doubtless like most men you have heard of her and perchance also
have been struck across the eyes with her hair, like your betters before
you," she interrupted with sarcasm.

"----Also," I went on, avoiding argument, "I have heard of Isis of the
Egyptians, Lady of the Moon, Mother of Mysteries, Spouse of Osiris whose
child was Horus the Avenger."

"Aye, and I think will hear more of her before you have done, Allan, for
now something comes back to me concerning you and her and another. I
am not the only one who has broken the oaths of Isis and received her
curse, Allan, as _you_ may find out in the days to come. But what of
these heavenly queens?"

"Only this, Ayesha; I have been taught that they were but phantasms
fabled by men with many another false divinity, and could have sworn
that this was true. And yet you talk of them as real and living, which
perplexes me."

"Being dull of understanding doubtless it perplexes you, Allan. Yet if
you had imagination you might understand that these goddesses are great
Principles of Nature; Isis, of throned Wisdom and strait virtue, and
Aphrodite, of Love, as it is known to men and women who, being human,
have it laid upon them that they must hand on the torch of Life in their
little hour. Also you would know that such Principles can seem to take
shape and form and at certain ages of the world appear to their servants
visible in majesty, though perchance to-day others with changed names
wield their sceptres and work their will. Now you are answered on this
matter. So to the next."

Privately I did not feel as though I were answered at all and I was sure
that I know nothing of the kind she indicated, but thinking it best to
leave the subject, I went on,

"If I understood rightly, Ayesha, the events which you have been pleased
first to describe to me, and then to qualify or contradict, took place
when the Pharaohs reigned. Now no Pharaoh has sat upon the throne of
Egypt for near two thousand years, for the last was a Grecian woman whom
the Romans conquered and drove to death. And yet, Ayesha, you speak as
though you have lived all through that gulf of time, and in this there
must be error, because it is impossible. Therefore I suppose you to mean
that this history has come down to you in writing, or perhaps in dreams.
I believe that even in such far-off times there were writers of romance,
and we