But, one day, Telephassa seemed feebler than
usual, and leaned almost her whole weight on
the arm of Cadmus, and walked more slowly
than ever before. At last they reached a soli-
tary spot, where she told her son that she must
needs lie down, and take a good, long rest.

"A good, long rest!' she repeated, looking
Cadmus tenderly in the face. "A good, long
rest, thou dearest one!"

"As long as you please, dear mother," an-
swered Cadmus.

Telephassa bade him sit down on the turf
beside her, and then she took his hand.

"My son," said she, fixing her dim eyes
most lovingly upon him, "this rest that I speak
of will be very long indeed! You must not
wait till it is finished. Dear Cadmus, you do
not comprehend me. You must make a grave
here, and lay your mother's weary frame into it.
My pilgrimage is over."

Cadmus burst into tears, and, for a long time,
refused to believe that his dear mother was now
to be taken from him. But Telephassa reasoned
with him, and kissed him, and at length made
him discern that it was better for her spirit to

[[132]]

p131 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p132w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p133

v?