She started, listened, and shook: never had such sound been heard in her palace! She pressed her hand to her side, and gasped.

The trampling came nearer and nearer; it entered the hall itself; moving figures that were not shadows approached her through the darkness! For us, we saw a splendour, a glorious woman centring the dark.

Lona sprang from her horse, and bounded to her.

I sprang from mine, and followed Lona.
"Mother! mother!" she cried, and her clear, lovely voice echoed in the dome.
The princess shivered; her face grew almost black with hate, her eyebrows met on her forehead.

She rose to her feet, and stood.
"Mother! mother!" cried Lona again, as she leaped on the dais, and flung her arms around the princess.
An instant more and I should have reached them!--in that instant I saw Lona lifted high, and dashed on the marble floor.