“The topaz and coral in the next block pertain to thy future home; and the diamond placed under them symbolizes the water which surrounds it,” read Suravia.
“It will also be thy home—and thine too, Mineola. I cannot be happy parted from thee.”
Each one of the girls affectionately embraced and kissed her in turn.
“The ruby contains an imprisoned soul,” said Mineola, looking again at the tablet. “There is a perfect asterisk in the center. How tender! How beautiful! How sweet is the language of love! He intends to say that his heart awaits the freeing touch of thy devotion to release it from apathy, and warm it into life. Thou art indeed blest and fortunate.”
“Thou shalt not read backward,” declared Suravia. “The first stone in the red ground is an opal. It must bring a precious message, since it is the only gem which man cannot imitate.”
“It has a changeable character, and is in a moving sign—”
A piercing scream from Kerœcia startled them, and before either companion could prevent it, she fell to the floor in a deathlike swoon. Mineola ran to the courtyard, where a water jar, overgrown with green timothy, swung from the portico, and brought back a gourdful of ice-cold water. Suravia knelt beside Kerœcia and sprinkled her face liberally.
“Speak to thy handmaiden,” she cried. “Speak, I beseech thee!”
In their excitement they did not notice that the room was suddenly growing dark, and that the cool, moist air had become close and stifling.
“Use the fan gently,” said Suravia, with a sharp, peremptory ring in her voice. Mineola made no answer. She was praying.