"So that the world seems frail; and I--except for my love--insignificant!"
In the sudden emphasis of his question, Manetho had risen to his feet; and Balder likewise had started up, before giving his reply. As he spoke the words strongly forth, his swarthy companion seemed to catch them in the air, and breathe them in. Slowly an expression of joy, that could hardly be called a smile, welled forth from his long eyes, and forced its way, with dark persistency of glee, through all his face.
"By you only in the world would I have her loved!" he said; and repeated it more than once.
He remained a full minute leaning with one arm on the altar, his eyes abstracted. Then he said abruptly,-"Why not be married soon?"
The lover looked up questioningly, a deep throb in his heart.
"Soon--soon!" reiterated Manetho. "Love is a thing of moments more than of years. I know it! Do you stand idle while Gnulemah awaits you? We may die to-morrow!"
"I have no right to hurry her," said Helwyse in a low voice. "She knows nothing of the world. I would marry her to-morrow--"
"To-morrow! why not to-day? Why wait? that she may learn the falsehoods of society,--to flirt, dress, gossip, crave flattery? Why do you hesitate? Speak out, son of Thor!"
"I have spoken. Do you doubt me? Were it possible, she should be my wife this hour!"
"Oh!" murmured Manetho, the incisiveness of his manner melting away as suddenly as it came; "now have you proved your love. You shall be made one,--one!--to-day. Four-and-twenty years ago this day, I married your parents on this very spot. The anniversary shall become a double one!"
The black eye-sockets of the mummy stared Balder in the face. But at a touch from Manetho, he turned, and saw Gnulemah, bright with beautiful enchantment, in the doorway.
"Yes, to-day!" he said impetuously.
"You shall wed her with that ring!" whispered the victorious tempter in his ear. "Go to her; tell her what marriage is! I will call you soon."
The lover went, and the woman, coming forward, sweetly met him half-way. But glancing back again before passing out, Balder saw that the priest had vanished; and the lamp, flickering above the mummy's dry features, wrought them into a shadowy semblance of emotion.