What a place it was ! Rocks blacker than jet towered above its shores and shed thick darkness over the country . Our sailors had not been there before and were nearly as frightened as ourselves , but thanks to Thelamis , who undertook to be our pilot , we landed safely on the beach . ` When we had left the coast behind us , with its walls of jet , we entered a lovely country where the fields were greener , the streams clearer , and the sun brighter than anywhere else . The people crowded round to welcome their prince , whom they loved dearly , but they told him that the king was still full of rage at his son 's refusal to marry his cousin the Princess Okimpare , and also at his flight . Indeed , they all begged him not to visit the capital , as his life would hardly be safe . So , much as I should have enjoyed seeing the home of my beloved prince , I implored him to listen to this wise advice and to let us all go to Thelamis 's palace in the middle of a vast forest . ` To my sister and myself , who had been brought up in a cottage , this house of Thelamis 's seemed like fairyland . It was built of pink marble , so highly polished that the flowers and streams surrounding it were reflected as in a mirror . One set of rooms was furnished especially for me in yellow silk and silver , to suit my black hair . Fresh dresses were provided for us every day , and we had slaves to wait on us . Ah , why could not this happiness have lasted for ever ! ` The peace of our lives was troubled by Thelamis 's jealousy of my sister , as he could not endure to see her on friendly terms with the prince , though knowing full well that his heart was mine . Every day we had scenes of tender reproaches and of explanations , but Tezila 's tears never failed to bring Thelamis to his knees , with prayers for forgiveness . ` We had been living in this way for some months when one day the news came that the king had fallen dangerously ill . I begged the prince to hurry at once to the court , both to see his father and also to show himself to the senators and nobles , but as his love for me was greater than his desire of a crown , he hesitated as if foreseeing all that afterwards happened . At last Tezila spoke to him so seriously in Thelamis 's presence , that he determined to go , but promised that he would return before night . ` Night came but no prince , and Tezila , who had been the cause of his departure , showed such signs of uneasiness that Thelamis 's jealousy was at once awakened . As for me , I can not tell what I suffered . Not being able to sleep I rose from my bed and wandered into the forest , along the road which he had taken so many hours before .
Suddenly I heard in the distance the sound XXXXX a horse 's hoofs , and in a few moments the prince had flung himself down and was by my side .
To along at from into like of than that though