The great golden eyes widened; darkened with dread; she sighed, shook her head impatiently.

“Not like us, and never like us,” she spoke low, wonderingly, “the Silent Ones say were they. Nor were those from which they sprang like those from which we have come. Ancient, ancient beyond thought are the Taithu, the race of the Silent Ones. Far, far below this place where now we sit, close to Earth heart itself were they born; and there they dwelt for time upon time, laya upon laya upon laya ⁠—with others, not like them, some of which have vanished time upon time agone, others that still dwell⁠—below⁠—in their⁠—cradle.