Whatever her rank might be, however, she was to all appearance the most absolute mistress of her own actions, and moved about among all these people with the independence and dignity of some person of exalted rank.
At length we emerged into the open air.

Here the contrast to the cavern gloom inside gave to the outer world unusual brightness and splendor, so that even under the heavy overarching tree-ferns, which had seemed so dark when I was here before, it now appeared light and cheerful.

Almah turned to the right, and we walked along the terrace.
But few people were visible.

They shrank from the light, and kept themselves in the caverns.

Then after a few steps we came to the base of a tall half-pyramid, the summit of which was above the tops of the trees.