.

TO THE HOUSE OF BITTERNESS.
In the morning we set out, and made for the forest as fast as we could.
I rode Lona's horse, and carried her body.

I would take it to her father: he would give it a couch in the chamber of his dead! or, if he would not, seeing she had not come of herself, I would watch it in the desert until it mouldered away! But I believed he would, for surely she had died long ago! Alas, how bitterly must I not humble myself before him! To Adam I must take Lilith also.

I had no power to make her repent! I had hardly a right to slay her--much less a right to let her loose in the world! and surely I scarce merited being made for ever her gaoler! Again and again, on the way, I offered her food; but she answered only with a look of hungering hate.

Her fiery eyes kept rolling to and fro, nor ever closed, I believe, until we reached the other side of the hot stream.