“That is our Highest, Lamara,” said Argon, in a reverential tone.
“But I don’t see Miriam!” rejoined Jack, his face falling.
Argon made no reply, and they went forward.
CHAPTER X
THE TRANCE
LAMARA’S countenance was youthful, but luminous with intelligence, and her stately grace gave an impression of dignity and superiority. She was exceedingly lovely. She gave him the Saturnian greeting, together with a look of such amity and understanding as made him feel as if she had known him all his life.
“I wish your Uncle Sam and Terence Mayne had come with you,” she unexpectedly said. “Mary Faust is always near us. Miriam is within.” She turned to a lofty man of middle age beside her: “This is our chief councilor, Aunion: and this is my beloved Zarga, who lives close to my heart: I have chosen her to be with Miriam.”
The girl thus designated was slight, and of striking beauty, with cobweb-fine hair of red gold hue, and dark eyes, which she had from the first fixed steadfastly on Jack. She was clothed in amethyst flames, like flickering violet petals. Jack, looking into those strange eyes, had a sensation of insecurity: mystery and fascination were in their unknown depths. But any misgivings as to Miriam’s picked companion must be baseless. As her hand touched his breast, the light contact gave him the feeling that it had left an imprint there. She said, in a voice surprisingly deep, “I hope to make you happy!” and stepped back: but he was still aware that she observed him.
“You know too much of me not to know my errand here,” he said to Lamara. “I hope your majesty will help me!”
“With all my heart!” said she, smiling. “We should be glad to have you and Miriam always with us: but your older friends need you. Argon will have told you of Miriam’s mishap, which we hope is slight: we do not yet know how it happened.”
She glanced at Zarga as she spoke. The girl addressed him.