XVII
Mounting the deadened stairway noiselessly to her sister's room, gropingfor the door in the dark of the landing, she called: "Iole!" And again:"Iole! Come to me! It is I!"
The door swung noiselessly; a dim form stole forward, wide-eyed andwhite in the electric light.
Then down at her sister's feet dropped Aphrodite, and laid a burningface against her silken knees. And, "Oh, Iole, Iole," she whispered,"Iole, Iole, Iole! There is danger, as you say--there is, and Iunderstand it ... now.... But I love him so--I--I have been so happy--sohappy! Tell me what I have done ... and how wrong it is! Oh, Iole, Iole!What have I done!"
"Done, child! What in the name of all the gods have you done?"
"Loved him--in the names of all the gods! Oh, Iole! Iole! Iole!"
"----The thrush singing in darkness; the voice of spring calling,calling me to his arms! Oh, Iole, Iole!--these, and my soul and his,alone under the pagan moon! alone, save for the old gods whispering inthe dusk----"
"----And listening, I heard the feathery tattoo of wings close by--thewings of Eros all aquiver like a soft moth trembling ere it flies! Perildivine! I understood it then. And, stirring in darkness, sweet as themelody of unseen streams, I heard the old gods laughing.... _Then_ Iknew."
"Is that all, little sister?"
"Almost all."
"What more?"
And when, at length, the trembling tale was told, Iole caught her in herwhite arms, looked at her steadily, then kissed her again and again.
"If he is all you say--this miracle--I--I think I can make themunderstand," she whispered. "Where is he?"
"D-down-stairs--at b-bay! Hark! You can hear George swearing! Oh, Iole,don't let him!"
In the silence from the drawing-room below came the solid sobs of thepoet:
"P-pup! P-p-penniless pup!"
"He _must_ not say that!" cried Aphrodite fiercely. "Can't you makefather and George understand that he has nearly six hundred dollars inthe bank?"
"I will try," said Iole tenderly. "Come!"
And with one arm around Aphrodite she descended the great stairway,where, on the lower landing, immensely interested, sat Chlorippe,Philodice and Dione, observant, fairly aquiver with intelligence.
"Oh, that young man is catching it!" remarked Dione, looking up as Iolepassed, her arm close around her sister's waist. "George has said'dammit' seven times and father is rocking--not in a rocking-chair--justrocking and expressing his inmost thoughts. And Mr. Briggs pretends toscowl and mutters: 'Hook him over the ropes, George. 'E ain't got nofriends!' Take a peep, Iole. You can just see them if you lean over andhang on to the banisters----"
But Iole brushed by her younger sisters, Aphrodite close beside her,and, entering the great receiving-hall, stood still, her clear eyesfocused upon her husband's back.
"George!"
Mr. Wayne stiffened and wheeled; Mr. Briggs sidled hastily toward thedoorway, crabwise; the poet choked back the word, "Phup!" and gazed athis tall daughter with apprehension and protruding lips.
"Iole," began Wayne, "this is no place for you! Aphrodite! let thatfellow alone, I say!"
Iole turned, following with calm eyes the progress of her sister towarda tall young man who stood by the window, a red flush staining hisstrained face.
The tense muscles in jaw and cheek relaxed as Aphrodite laid one hand onhis arm; the poet, whose pursed lips were overloaded, expelled apassionate "Phupp!" and the young man's eyes narrowed again at the shot.
Then silence lengthened to a waiting menace, and even the three sisterson the stairs succumbed to the oppressive stillness. And all the whileIole stood like a white Greek goddess under the glory of her hair,looking full into the eyes of the tall stranger.
A minute passed; a glimmer dawned to a smile and trembled in the azureof Iole's eyes; she slowly lifted her arms, white hands outstretched,looking steadily at the stranger.
He came, tense, erect; Iole's cool hands dropped in his. And, turning tothe others with a light on her face that almost blinded him, she said,laughing: "Do you not understand? Aphrodite brings us the rarest gift inthe world in this tall young brother! Look! Touch him! We have neverseen his like before for all the wisdom of wise years. For he is one offew--and men are many, and artists legion--this honorable miracle, thissane and wholesome wonder! this trinity, Lover, Artist, and Man!"
And, turning again, she looked him wistfully, wonderingly, in the eyes.
THE END
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Errata (noted by transcriber)
The variation between single and double quotes for nested quotationsis unchanged.
so many agreeable-looking men." [_internal close quote missing_] sounded a staccato monotone [stacatto] for understanding me." [me.'"] She leaned forward thoughtfully [foward]
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