A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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"Well, why couldn't I be made an Athon or a Kohen, and be exempted in
that way?"
"Oh, that would be too great a dishonor; it would be impossible.
On the contrary, the whole people are anxious to honor you to the
very uttermost, and to bestow upon you the greatest privileges and
blessings which can possibly be given. Oh no, it would be impossible
for them to allow you to become an Athon or a Kohen. As for me, I am
Malca, and therefore the lowest in the land--pitied and commiserated
by the haughty pauper class, who shake their heads at the thought of
one like me. All the people shower upon me incessantly new gifts and
new offices. If my present love of light and life were generally
known, they would punish me by giving me new contributions of wealth
and new offices and powers, which I do not want."
"But you love riches, do you not? and you must want them still?"
"No," said Layelah, "I do not want them now."
"Why, what do you want?" I asked.
"You!" said she, with a sweet smile.
I said nothing, but tried desperately to think of something that might
divert the conversation.
Layelah was silent for a few moments, and then went on in a musing
tone:
"As I was saying, I love you, Atam-or, and I hate Almah because you
love her. I think Almah is the only human being in all the world that
I ever really hated; and yet, though I hate her, still, strange to
say, I feel as though I should like to give her the immense blessing
of death, and that is a very strange feeling, indeed, for one of the
Kosekin. Do you understand, Atam-or, what such can possibly be?"
I did not answer, but turned away the conversation by a violent
effort.
"Are there any other athalebs here?"