It can't be gone, because I feel sure that truth
and knowledge and hope are all one."
"I wonder if you'll still feel so when you've married a man of another
race--as I have?"
Victoria did not answer. She had to conquer the little cold thrill of
superstitious fear which crept through her veins, as Saidee's words
reminded her of M'Barka's sand-divining. She had to find courage again
from "her star," before she could speak.
"Forgive me, Babe!" said Saidee, stricken by the look in the lifted
eyes. "I wish I needn't remind you of anything horrid to-night--your
first night with me after all these years. But we have so little time.
What else can I do?"
"I shall know by to-morrow what we are to do," Victoria said cheerfully.
"Because I shall take counsel of the night."
"You're a very odd girl," the woman reflected aloud. "When you were a
tiny thing, you used to have the weirdest thoughts, and do the quaintest
things. I was sure you'd grow up to be absolutely different from any
other human being. And so you have, I think. Only an extraordinary sort
of girl could ever have made her way without help from Potterston,
Indiana, to Oued Tolga in North Africa."
"I _had_ help--every minute. Saidee--did you think of me sometimes, when
you were standing here on this roof?"
"Yes, of course I thought of you often--only not so often lately as at
first, because for a long time now I've been numb. I haven't thought
much or cared much about anything, or--or any one except----"
"Except----"
"Except--except myself, I'm afraid.
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