She
slipped from her bed, and through the doorway of her little pylon
chamber. Now she was upon the narrow stair, and in face of her was that
other chamber where Asti slept. Someone was talking with her! Perhaps
Mermes was with his wife, and if so she could not enter. No, it was
Asti's voice, and, listening, she could hear her murmuring prayers or
invocations in solemn tones. She pushed open the door and entered. A
little lamp burned in the room, and by its feeble light she saw the
white-robed Asti, whose long hair fell about her, standing with upturned
eyes and arms outstretched to Heaven. Suddenly Asti saw her also, though
but dimly for she stood in the dense shadow, and knew her not.
"Advance, O thou Ghost, and declare thyself, for never was thy help more
needed," she said.
"It is no ghost, but I," said Tua. "What dealings are these that you
have with ghosts at this deadest hour of the night, Asti? Do not enough
terrors encompass us that you must needs call on your familiar spirits
to add to them?"
"I call on the spirits to save us from them, Queen, for, like you, I
think that we are set in the midst of perils.
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