Aye, and I added that my heart told me I was the woman whom he sought." "Have done, niece," said Simbri impatiently, "I would not hear of the arts you used--well enough, doubtless.

What then ?" "Then he said that it might be so, since he thought that this woman was born again, and studied me a while, asking me if I had ever 'passed through fire.' To this I replied that the only fires I had passed were those of the spirit, and that I dwelt in them now.

He said, 'Show me your hair,' and I placed a lock of it in his hand.

Presently he let it fall, and from that satchel which he wears about his neck drew out another tress of hair--oh! Simbri, my uncle, the loveliest hair that ever eyes beheld, for it was soft as silk, and reached from my coronet to the ground.

Moreover, no raven's wing in the sunshine ever shone as did that fragrant tress.
"'Yours is beautiful,' he said, 'but see, they are not the same.' "'Mayhap,' I answered, 'since no woman ever wore such locks.' "'You are right,' he replied, 'for she whom I seek was more than a woman.' "And then--and then--though I tried him in many ways he would say no more, so, feeling hate against this Unknown rising in my heart, and fearing lest I should utter words that were best unsaid, I left him.