Page:Ayesha, the return of She (IA cu31924013476175).pdf/308

296  of a forgotten faith? And she thrust the glowing substance up almost to the mask that hid my face.

Then I turned and ran, or rather waddled, for in that gear I could not run, out of the chamber until the rock wall beyond stayed me, and there, with my back towards her, thrust my helmeted head against it, for I felt as though red-hot bradawls had been plunged into my eyes. So I stood while she laughed and mocked behind me until at length I heard the door close and the blessed darkness came like a gift from Heaven.

Then Ayesha began to loose Leo from his ray-proof armour, if so it can be called, and he in turn loosed me; and there in that gentle radiance we stood blinking at each other like owls in the sunlight, while the tears streamed down our faces.

Well, art satisfied, my Holly? she asked.

Satisfied with what? I answered angrily, for the smarting of my eyes was unbearable. Yes, with burnings and bedevilments I am well satisfied.

And I also, grumbled Leo, who was swearing softly but continuously to himself in the other corner of the place.

But Ayesha only laughed, oh! she laughed until she seemed the goddess of all merriment come to earth, laughed till she also wept, then said—

Why, what ingratitude is this? Thou, my Leo, didst wish to see the wonders that I work, and thou, O Holly, didst come unbidden after I bade thee stay behind, and now both of you are rude and angry, aye, and weeping like a child with a burnt finger. Here take this, and she gave us some salve that stood upon a shelf, and rub it on your eyes and the smart will pass away.

So we did, and the pain went from them, though, for hours afterwards, mine remained red as blood.

And what are these wonders? I asked her presently. If thou meanest that unbearable flame—

Nay, I mean what is born of the flame, as, in thine