Page:Ayesha, the return of She (IA cu31924013476175).pdf/274

262 Know, Leo, that she is what I named her—Nature's soul, no divinity, but the secret spirit of the world; that universal Motherhood, whose symbol thou hast seen yonder, and in whose mysteries lie hid all earthly life and knowledge.

Does, then, this merciful Motherhood follow her votaries with death and evil, as thou sayest she has followed thee for thy disobedience, and me—and another—because of some unnatural vows broken long ago? Leo asked quietly.

Resting her arm upon the table, Ayesha looked at him with sombre eyes an answered—

In that Faith of thine of which thou speakest are there perchance two gods, each having many ministers: a god of good and a god of evil, an Osiris and a Set?

He nodded.

I thought it. And the god of ill is strong, is he not, and can put on the shape of good? Tell me, then, Leo, in the world that is to-day, whereof I know so little, hast thou ever heard of frail souls who for some earthly bribe have sold themselves to that evil one, or to his minister, and been paid their price in bitterness and anguish?

All wicked folk do as much in this form or in that, he answered.

And if once there lived a woman who was mad with the thirst for beauty, for life, for wisdom, and for love, might she not—oh! might she not perchance—

Sell herself to the god called Set, or one of his angels? Ayesha, dost thou mean —and Leo rose, speaking in a voice that was full of fear— that thou art such a woman?

And if so? she asked, also rising and drawing slowly near to him.

If so, he answered hoarsely, if so, I think that perhaps we had best fulfil our fates apart—

Ah! she said, with a little scream of pain as though a knife had stabbed her, wouldst thou away to Atene?