What were petty joys and absence of petty fears to her, the raising of whose hand could hurl armies, or draw to the water-stairs of her palaces the commerce of the world! At whose word rose temples filled with all the artistic beauty of the Times of Old which it was her aim and pleasure to restore! Under whose guidance the solid rock yawned into the sepulchre that she designed! "Surely, surely, such a one had nobler dreams! I can feel them in my heart; I can see them with my sleeping eyes!" As she spoke she seemed to be inspired; and her eyes had a far-away look as though they saw something beyond mortal sight.

And then the deep eyes filled up with unshed tears of great emotion.

The very soul of the woman seemed to speak in her voice; whilst we who listened sat entranced.
"I can see her in her loneliness and in the silence of her mighty pride, dreaming her own dream of things far different from those around her.

Of some other land, far, far away under the canopy of the silent night, lit by the cool, beautiful light of the stars.

A land under that Northern star, whence blew the sweet winds that cooled the feverish desert air.