Momus settled himself in a securer position and Laodice, careless of the outcome of this breathless hurry, yielded herself to the careen of her howdah.

At times, her indifferent vision caught, through moonlit notches and gaps, glimpses of great blue vapors, crowned with pale fire and piled in glorious disorder low on the eastern horizon.

They were the hills encompassing Jerusalem.

The stream of wind on her face cooled and drove stronger.
Aquila rode closer to her, his horse panting under the effort.

His face looked strange and distressed.
"Lady," he said in low tones, "necessity forces me to speak to you in your grief; do not blame me for indifference to your desire to be alone.