Angels and Women (1924)

96 ANGELS AND WOMENelegantly appointed vehicles passing in anever-changing, ever-renewed stream of lifeand beauty; while upon the lofty eminence ofthe mountain the enormous serpent stilltwined and twisted like a thing of life. Thebuildings of the marble city harmonized instyle with the Palace of Light. Upon thehighest point of each glittered a golden star.At a distance, near the entrance of the valley,was a singular structure, entirely unlikethe others, of wood, bulky and low, withoutany attempted beauty of proportion, atwhich I wondered greatly.And while I mused, a woman attended bya slave came through the open door near meand sat down on the opposite side of the balcony.She was attired after the elegant but dissolutestyle of the Palace, and though beautifulin face and figure, had a worn and melancholyexpression. I saluted her respectfullyand enquired if I shouldisturb her by remaining.She answered that these were her