Each jom as it came and went brought us nearer to that awful time, and the hour was surely coming when we should be taken to the outer square and to the top of the pyramid of sacrifice.
Once Layelah sat for some time silent and involved in thought.

At length she began to speak to me.
"Almah," said she, "is very different from us.

She loves you and you love her.

She ought to give you up.

Almah, you ought to give up Atam-or, since you love him." Almah looked confused, and made some reply to the effect that she belonged to a different race with different customs.
"But you should follow our customs.