“Then you love this spirit? If so, I am sorry that you have sought her thirty-three years. You know how long have been these drear winter years for me, while Regan sleeps in the snow outside the wall!” There was a shuddering cry; from the air or clouds it seemed. It was like a laugh, a wail, some moan of a lost soul. It frightened Rondah. She caught the momentary flash of hideous wrath on the man’s face, but it was so quickly gone that she was not certain she saw it. “Will you accept your mission, Rondah?” “I?” “It is for you to save these souls!” “I shall stay in Regan’s star!” “This dwarf realm is only a stepping-stone toward a higher throne. Not here is your sphere, with bird men and women. Up there they wait for you!” He raised his hand and the clouds above them cleared away; beyond the gold they saw Jupiter; his fiery globe was splotched with great, glowing surfaces of yellow. “Do you see them? Those are my golden lakes. The little, smooth, green moon near the star is one of the satellites which you can save. It is small, but three times the size of this star.” Rondah answered nothing. “That beautiful world has perishing multitudes. They wait for you, Rondah! Will you lose them their salvation for one man of Earth? You are waiting for one merely human. I am of a race more powerful, as my world is greater. You alone can reveal the truths to these worlds. You must teach them, save them. Rondah, Rondah, why do you not look at me?” His strong, white hands clutched the air beside her, but they could not touch the woman of Earth. “Rondah, you are the spirit, you are my love!” “Do you not know I do not love you?” said Rondah, quietly. “Does one so mighty know so little of human hearts?” “All my worlds are yours. Surely, you must take them. From their creation the scheme of their existence was for you!” Like a caress the light of ruby and of green fell upon Rondah’s coronet and kissed her red-gold braids. Her pale, perfect face was pink with the light. Her lovely eyes burned with the glory of both colors. “I will not go! I will stay in Regan’s star!” Slow, very slow, her answer, as if a sort of paralysis had touched her. “He is a foe to Regan,” whispered her wifely faith, “triumphant and gorgeous while Regan is asleep in winter helplessness. Thank Heaven it is the last winter!” “I hate you!” whispered her heart; almost her lips uttered the words. “I love you!” cried the man, with an awful prayer in his voice. “I have waited years for a smile or a word. I will not return to my sun without you! Oh! come to your fate with me! You will come, Rondah, you will come?” And now he caught her hands and turned her reluctant eyes to look at him.