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Rathunor, most of all, observed the change in the Princess; at

the slightest touch there was a response within--his very

presence struck the chords of sympathy that existed between them.

This was, to him, a very unaccountable change. In all his life

association with Nu-nah these emotions, that now seemed to spring

from the soul, had never before been experienced. He was very

much inclined to attribute it to an abnormal sympathy aroused by

her sickness and terrible suffering. Still, the words of the High

Priest haunted him and the feelings born from within, on the

night of the solemn Rites at the Temple, could not be vanished by

any amount of reasoning; still he would not allow such thoughts

to be nourished by the slightest hope--much less be watered by

the spirit of faith and allowed to grow. Although Rathunor was

brave in external pain, and daringly courageous in acts of

chivalry, he was an infant when subject to disappointment. Here

was the battle of self going on.