“But, Rizpah, while we are here we ought to fully explore the changeless cities of this dead, black, lava sea. There are none other like this on earth! ’Tis nature’s desperate effort to outrun phantasmagoria.”
Rizpah shook her head and waved her hands; this time vehemently, as if to repel a horror.
“What? A fixed no?”
“No more excursions into this counterpart of hades for me.”
“Well, so be it to-day, at least,” with surrendering tones, the knight replied.
“To-day? All days! Oh, God, remove me from this nightmare!”
So exclaiming, the woman covered her eyes, shuddered and wept hysterically.
Sir Charleroy was almost overcome with sudden amazement. The tears, the terror, the complete change before him, were beyond his comprehension. After a time he again spoke: “Why, this is a sudden freak or frenzy. I thought Rizpah fascinated here!”
“I’ve had my notice from the dread spirits that infest the place to go! Didst thou note what dark and threatening clouds dipped down like vultures upon me when we were last there?” vehemently Rizpah replied.
“I only saw a threatening of rain that came not. It seldom rains in the Lejah.”