“Sincerity of speech and freedom from slanderous thoughts,” continued Kerœcia. “Wisdom, courage, patience, and the power to keep those who serve loyal. Fidelity in every engagement—” “Where seest thou this?” asked Suravia, looking intently, but unable to distinguish so much. “I know not,” answered Kerœcia. “The divine gift of song is also here, with a low sweet voice and love of home for my portion.” “Seest thou this flying eagle with an arrow in its claws?” asked Mineola, pointing to the green jade intaglio, on a square at the top. “His thought is always of me,” murmured Kerœcia. “See how perfect the polish and how exquisite the cutting.” “The bottom has a black onyx square with an altar and fire,” said Suravia, gazing curiously at the opposite end. “This will keep the heart cheerful and merry, because it foretells deathless union—” “Be merciful to our curiosity, by touching the spring which conceals the other chapters,” cried both girls in a breath. “I cannot tell why—but I feel as if something were going to happen. How strange the light is!” The priestess still held the tablet in her hand, but went to the window and looked out. “Dost thou not think a storm is approaching?” “Let us put back the curtains which keep out the light,” said Suravia, suiting the action to the word. “Low-hanging clouds oppress the upper air. But this is nothing.” “Thou hast no cause for apprehension,” said Mineola, kindly. “Thou hast all the world to make thee content.” Thus gently urged, Kerœcia came back to the table, accidentally setting the gold wheel in motion as she approached. “Dost thou notice that the square indentations in the inner circle of the wheel are the same size as the top and bottom?” asked Suravia, intent on her discovery. “And dost thou see that the clasps are the same size?” asked Alcyesta, whose quick eye had already noted the resemblance. Kerœcia was still pale and unaccountably agitated. Finally she said, with her thumb on the spring: “I am face to face with Fate! But—Yermah loves me, so why should I fear?” She pressed the spring and the screen spread out instantly. In the center was a slip of parchment, on which was written: “_When once my heart opens unto thy loving touch, never again canst thou close it._” Woman-like, they all exclaimed at once, and were in a flutter of excitement over the beauty of workmanship, the flight of fancy, and the loving sentiments expressed in this novel fashion. “Did I not tell thee the squares would fit into the wheel?” demanded Suravia, when she finally managed to make herself heard. “Let us try it,” said Kerœcia. “Thou art right. It fits perfectly. The tablet is square, but the wheel is circular, which is in itself a great mystery with the Azes.” The priestess blushed scarlet as she realized that she had betrayed her study of Yermah’s religion. “Tell us about it,” demanded both auditors, eagerly. “To circle the square, means to find the perfect way of living,” she answered.