‘Nor did the Queen of Sheba when she quitted Solomon. You know what she did?’
‘Tell me.’
‘She wept very much, and let one of the King’s birds fly into the garden. “You are freed from your cage,” she said; “but I am going back to mine.”’
‘But you never weep?’ said the Princess.
‘Never.’
‘And are always free?’
‘So are men in the Desert.’
‘But your life is not a Desert?’
‘It at least resembles the Desert in one respect: it is useless.’
‘The only useless life is woman’s.’