Lilith

She gave the candle to her husband, and led the child away.
We turned once more to go back to the cottage. I was very sad, for no one had offered me a place in the house
of the dead. Eve joined us as we went, and walked on before with her husband. Mara by my side carried the
hand of Lilith in the lap of her robe.
"Ah, you have found her!" we heard Eve say as we stepped into the cottage.
The door stood open; two elephant−trunks came through it out of the night beyond.
"I sent them with the lantern," she went on to her husband, "to look for Mara's leopardess: they have brought
her."
I followed Adam to the door, and between us we took the white creature from the elephants, and carried her
to the chamber we had just left, the women preceding us, Eve with the light, and Mara still carrying the hand.
There we laid the beauty across the feet of the princess, her fore−paws outstretched, and her head couching
between them.
Then I turned and said to Eve,
CHAPTER XLI. I AM SENT
"Mother, one couch next to Lona is empty: I know I am unworthy, but may I not sleep this night in your
chamber with my dead? Will you not pardon both my cowardice and my self−confidence, and take me in? I
give me up. I am sick of myself, and would fain sleep the sleep!"
"The couch next to Lona is the one already prepared for you," she answered; "but something waits to be done
ere you sleep."
"I am ready," I replied.
"How do you know you can do it?" she asked with a smile.
"Because you require it," I answered. "What is it?"
She turned to Adam:
"Is he forgiven, husband?"
"From my heart."
"Then tell him what he has to do."
Adam turned to his daughter.
"Give me that hand, Mara, my child."
She held it out to him in her lap. He took it tenderly.
Lilith
"Let us go to the cottage," he said to me; "there I will instruct you."
Lilith 141