again on the cross of his torment. And the voice went on.)

And as he said this, her heart broke; and she went and her feet
were weary. So she took the wise book she loved and unrolled it
until she came to a certain passage, and this she read twice;
"If the heart of a slave be broken it may be mended with jewels
and soft words, but the heart of a Princess can be healed only by
the King who broke it, or in Yamapura, the City under the Sunset
where they make all things new. Now, Yama, the Lord of this City,
is the Lord of Death." And having thus read the Princess rolled
the book and put it from her.

And next day, the King said to his women; "Send for her," for his
heart smote him and he desired to atone royally for the shame of
his speech. And they sought and came back saying;

"Maharaj, she is gone. We cannot find her."

Fear grew in the heart of the King - a nameless dread, and he
said, "Search." And again they sought and returned and the King
was striding up and down the great hall and none dared cross his
path. But, trembling, they told him, and he replied; "Search
again. I will not lose her, and, slave though be, she shall be my
Queen."

So they ran, dispersing to the Four Quarters, and King strode up
and down the hall, and Loneliness kept step with him and clasped
his hand and looked his eyes.

Then the youngest of the women entered with a tale to tell.