eyes a thousand bitter tears before my heart and brain could consent to
be guided by the warning voice. Of one thing you may be fully assured:
my heart will never be another's, come what may--it is yours with my
whole soul!--But I will not be your bride till I can say to you with glad
confidence, as well as with passionate love: 'You have conquered--take
me, I am yours!' Then you shall feel and confess that Paula's love is
not less vehement, less ardent.... O God! Orion, learn to know and
understand me. You must--for my sake and your own, you must!--My head,
merciful Heaven, my head!"

She bowed her face and clasped her hands to her burning brow; Orion, pale
and shivering, laid his hand on her shoulder, and said in a harsh, forced
voice that had lost all its music: "The Esoterics impose severe trials
on their disciples before they admit them into the mysteries. And we are
in Egypt--but the difference is a wide one when the rule is applied to
love. How ever, all this is not from yourself. What you call prudence
is the voice of that nun!"

"It is the voice of reason," replied Paula softly. "The yearning of my
heart had overpowered it, and I owe to my friend. . . ."

"What do you owe her?" cried the young man furiously indignant. "You
should curse her, rather, for doing you so ill a turn, as I do at this
moment. What does she know of me? Has she ever heard a word from my
lips? If that despotic and casuistic recluse could have known what my
heart and soul are like, she would have advised you differently. Even as
a childs' confidence and love alone could influence me. Whatever my
faults might be, I never was false to kindness and trust.--And, so far
as you are concerned--you who are prudence and reason in person--blest in
your love, I should have cared only for your approbation. If I could