with the lapse of years. Yet Damma was new to Antar, and she differed in all things from his old love. Her kisses were not the same; her voice seemed sweeter; her ways had greater charm; and she had arts which Rheda never had, and which made Antar's throat swell and his heart beat when he gazed upon her. True he had not known her for long. He had only met her a few days before her first encounter with Arvah on the banks of the river; but at that moment he had fallen before her wonderful beauty, heedless of whether he ranked alone in her love or not. And she, when she saw young Arvah, fresh from the river and ruddy with the glow of health and action, hesitated, although Antar knew it not, and then, stung by the novel sweetness of the boy's soft kiss, gave her heart to him, and promised herself that some day he should be hers, when Arvar should be grown and Antar should have wearied her. And thus, although she revelled with Antar for a season, she loved Arvah. and waited for his manhood. And Antar,
