In a few minutes Adam returned with an ancient weapon in his hand. The scabbard looked like vellum grown dark with years, but the hilt shone like gold that nothing could tarnish. He drew out the blade. It flashed like a pale blue northern streamer, and the light of it made the princess open her eyes. She saw the sword, shuddered, and held out her hand. Adam took it. The sword gleamed once, there was one little gush of blood, and he laid the severed hand in Mara’s lap. Lilith had given one moan, and was already fast asleep. Mara covered the arm with the sheet, and the three turned away. “Will you not dress the wound?” I said. “A wound from that sword,” answered Adam, “needs no dressing. It is healing and not hurt.” “Poor lady!” I said, “she will wake with but one hand!” “Where the dead deformity clung,” replied Mara, “the true, lovely hand is already growing.” We heard a childish voice behind us, and turned again. The candle in Eve’s hand shone on the sleeping face of Lilith, and the waking faces of the three Little Ones, grouped on the other side of her couch. “How beautiful she is grown!” said one of them. “Poor princess!” said another; “I will sleep with her. She will not bite any more!” As he spoke he climbed into her bed, and was immediately fast asleep. Eve covered him with the sheet. “I will go on her other side,” said the third. “She shall have two to kiss her when she wakes!” “And I am left alone!” said the first mournfully. “I will put you to bed,” said Eve. 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. CHAPTER XLI. I AM SENT Then I turned and said to Eve, “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.