The God-Eater

13 Maurya. Oh! Oh! he must come out and be tended. Whereis the lever ? Here— [ Seed? supporting him on one arm, she ratses a ponderous knocker and lets it fall. A clang, sombre, and of surprising volume, resounds. The door slowly opens of itself.] Criospa. [Recovering.] Whois at the door? Back, back. It is ill luck, ill luck, I say. Where is old Andrew? The faithful fool—Oh, the last dreadful look of his glazed eyes! What am I saying? Maurya, girl, go! I must tend the temple. I must be alone. It is not fitting— Maurya. You are ill; come and be tended yourself, first. Criospa. No! I am well. You are a girl, not a God. Maurya. Oh! Oh! Have I done amiss? Am I not Criospa. Stop, don’t! [Aside.] I must be man—tut ! tut !— [Aloud.| Why, little sister, know Those whom we worship as our gods are gods. The power is mine: that art no skill resists. No God dethrones himself ; none can. Will he, nill he, God must be God: it 1s a luckless fate for a girl’s dower, a thankless way for a maiden’s feet. Maurya. Why, then, am I not the Goddess Maurya?