Angels and Women (1924)

186 ANGELS AND WOMEN
lower and lower, when, with the suddenness
of a flash of light, a great comet, which in the
absorbing interest of this supreme moment
had been rapidly approaching unseen,
swerved to one side and gradually circled
around them, condensing and hardening as
it passed under the Shadow of the Hand,
until they were hopelessly encompassed and
bound in adamantin bonds.
A faint blue flame parting from the one
time Light-bearer gave token of the last
struggle, as deeper and darker the incarnation
of despair sank into the rayless gloom
of the black, unfathomable abyss of earth’s
atmosphere.
The Shadow then moved till it reached
the crystal dome; and then the pointer on
the dial trembled to the Hour of Doom. Too
late, too late, to save the kingdom of the
Devas! All is lost! Again deep silence fell
on all created things; then, like the solemn
chime of bells came voices of the Heavenly
hosts in antiphonal chant: "Glory, glory,