“And he means to say that his life with thee will be perfect? He is the square, thou art the circle?” “It were more worthily put the other way,” answered Kerœcia, touched by his tenderness and devotion. “See the clasps,” said Mineola. “At the eastern point is a man’s figure with a bull’s head, holding a spear over his left shoulder, from which hangs a hare.” “What a quaint, odd symbol of himself!” said Kerœcia, smiling. “Placed opposite the balances, it will keep his beloved in health and preserve her from despair,” said Suravia. “Why sayest thou balances?” asked Kerœcia. “Dost thou not see that the stones corresponded to the zodiac? The diamond blazes like the sun in a clear sky,” answered Suravia, pointing to the blue square. “I have only eyes for this beautiful hyacinth in the opposite clasp. It looks as if smoke were rising from it. Now it glows like a burning coal,” cried Mineola. “Cut deep in its smooth surface is a woman with her arms asunder, like a cross, and having a triangle on her head,” commented Kerœcia. “The stone is in the house of the Lamb, the beginning and renewal time of Nature. Therefore, art thou given refreshing sleep and quick recovery from fatigue,” returned Mineola. “The desire and thought of both is centered on the altar.” Kerœcia was speaking to herself, and lightly touching the blocks with their intaglios marking the four cardinal points. “Thou art right in adoring him,” declared Suravia, enthusiastically. “In the first block of gold is a sapphire, meaning that the language of this book is the same as that thy childhood knew; and the agate below it is thy birth-stone.” “The emerald underneath both has a perfectly straight and smooth surface; so there shall be no darkening shadows thrown over thee,” said Mineola. “The topaz and coral in the next block pertain to thy future home; and the diamond placed under them symbolizes the water which surrounds it,” read Suravia. “It will also be thy home—and thine too, Mineola. I cannot be happy parted from thee.” Each one of the girls affectionately embraced and kissed her in turn. “The ruby contains an imprisoned soul,” said Mineola, looking again at the tablet. “There is a perfect asterisk in the center. How tender! How beautiful! How sweet is the language of love! He intends to say that his heart awaits the freeing touch of thy devotion to release it from apathy, and warm it into life. Thou art indeed blest and fortunate.” “Thou shalt not read backward,” declared Suravia. “The first stone in the red ground is an opal. It must bring a precious message, since it is the only gem which man cannot imitate.” “It has a changeable character, and is in a moving sign—”