CHAPTER XIV - AFTER THE TEMPEST

Glarces woke in the strange room whither he had been carried, with a very vague remembrance of what had taken place. He was alone, in an unknown place, without the slightest clue to solve the difficulty. His memory was clouded, body numbed, and the only definite consciousness he had was the trembling, paralysing chill of a man left exposed to the full influences of a winter's hoarfrost. But the sun is stronger than the rime, and youthful vitality rises superior to physical exhaustion. So the mind of Glarces woke from its stupor, enabling him to remember and reflect.

A mighty earthquake had opened a yawning, impassable chasm at his feet - dividing his yesterday from to-day - a cataclysm of experience which had wrecked the man his sister loved, and in his place had left a stranger so unlike his old self as to excite suspicion and doubt. All this he knew from the change he felt, but when he appealed to the witness of the mirror he started with an exclamation, not daring to perjure himself by recognition. Nothing but slowly returning memory remained faithful to him in that crisis, but by her friendly torch he was lighted back to successfully identify the new with the old Glarces.

In such a curious bewilderment he began to review the events of the night in the light of results obtained. Was he satisfied with his purchase at the price he was compelled to pay? Would the knowledge gained warrant the sacrifice he had made, or was there some other and more economical means of reaching the same end? Having consecrated and given himself so completely to his sister, had he any legal right to enter upon such an enquiry with all its risks and damaging effects without her knowledge and consent? He was not sure! These questions were practicable yesterday, when a choice was possible, but the alternative hour had now passed, and the result irrevocable, without the option of reconsideration.

He was not the only man who fails to estimate or attempts to forecast the possibilities of an act beforehand. How often do we leave our case unreservedly in the hands of Hope only to find our brief passed on to Regret at the crucial moment. We neglect to use the lorgnette “If” until we lose the features of Opportunity. Most men suffer from ophthalmic weakness in the sunshine of Expectation, but the shadow of Fulfilment speedily restores the vision.

Glarces, however, presently found another and more pleasant current in his reflection. What he had undertaken was not due to any idle curiosity, but at the dictate of his love to satisfy Vedrona's doubts. Rumour had disturbed her, and breathed slander upon the name of Lais; as the self­constituted but admitted guardian of both he was in duty bound to enquire into the matter, and what authority was to be found equal to the declaration of the oracle? What comparison could be instituted between any sacrifice he could make, and the service he thereby rendered to both his sisters? He might possibly have reached a doubtful satisfaction by a less energetic course, but such would be the policy of a man careful and sparing of himself – not Glarces. Suspicion allowed to tarry always stains, which even in thought was an injustice to both his sisters, and he would wipe it away by the most unequivocal decision at once. When they first saw him the change might shock - even repel - them, but when they knew the reason, and understood his motive, the scars would form bonds of affection drawing each to the other more closely than before.

For himself? Well, such a consideration was always the last to occur to the mind of Glarces. He lived for and through others. His life was like a central cell receiving sympathetic vibrations from all around with an instant response and ministry to every call. So extremely sensitive was this connection that the welfare of each distant slave affected him, how much more, then, the nearer contact of his sisters? Vedrona's spasm and the blow at Lais had called to him. He had answered promptly - daringly. The alarm was a false one; all the conspiring appearances of yesterday were misleading, whispering of the caution required in forming opinions even in most apparent flagrancies. His sisters were safe. All was well. He suffered for the moment, but had discovered an unfailing court of appeal to guide him in the future. He had passed through an experience in which he lost much, but had gained more.

Having arrived at this conclusion he summoned assistance, and, disguising himself as a magician to avoid recognition, returned to the palace accompanied by Meshrac.

Reaching his own apartments he smiled at the consternation of his faithful Orasus, when at length he became persuaded of the Prince's identity. But he offered no explanation, simply refused to see any other attendant or officer, as was his custom, and at once prepared to attend his sister.

Then his heart smote him to think of the alarm with which she would notice his change of appearance.

Useless hesitation! Art might conceal the purple circles round his eyes, but it could not lift them from their sunken depths or extinguish their smouldering fires of fear; the pallor of his cheeks might be dismissed, but nothing could still the tremor of his nerves and body. She must needs sustain the blow, and he must prepare to aid her as necessity demanded.

He sent a message of apology for his delay on the ground of indisposition with the hope of preparing her in a measure, and at once followed the messenger. Before she had time to respond, his approach was announced, and he stepped across the threshold, but when Vedrona's exclamation of welcome died into a cry of horror, his fickle fortitude forsook him. The new Glarces was not equal to the demand of love. His attempted reassuring smile only produced a ghastly grin, and when his sister fell weeping upon his neck he stood motionless and unresponsive as a statue.

“Help! Help!” she cried,” Give me help! Do you not see that the Prince is ill?”

Her alarm aroused him.

“No, my love, I am not ill - only tired. My sleep was full of troublesome dreams - experiences through which I lived and suffered, until they left these savage marks upon me.”

You cannot deceive me, Glarces, for did not I go with you in my dreams into some horror I have no power to recall? Did we not suffer together until some awful agony came between us? Then from the blackness, deep and cruel as death, I heard you cry for help, but I could not find you - you were lost to me for ever.”

In the rapport of their love she had caught a vibration of his experience, which in its action became translated to her consciousness as a hitherto forgotten dream.

Her grief produced a restorative effect on Glarces, and compelled him to offer her consolation.

“But your dream was false, dear. See, are we not together again with the return of the morning?” he asked assuringly. “Neither am I ill as you imagine, but rather well and happier than I was yesterday. I have news, my love; good and welcome news that would not keep, therefore I made haste to see you, rather than wait to rid myself of these marks of travel from the strange land in which I have sojourned for awhile. Can you dispense with your pets this morning that I may tell you at once?”

The lions, and with them all the attendants, save the two favourite slaves, at once retired. At Vedrona's request Glarces changed places, he taking her lounge and she his usual seat beside it. Zillah lay at Vedrona's feet, her chin resting upon her hands, and Æna seizing her lute, began to sing one of her soft soothing songs.

“Now rest! The message will wait while Æna sings to us. It will quiet you into a dreamless sleep. When you wake we will send for Machaon to attend you, and then I will hear the news.”

“Not so, my love, not so! My restoration is bound up in the message; and thy dear eyes contain more life and health than all Machaon's herbs.”

“Is it a message of love you bring?”

“Most truly so,” he answered, attempting to rise on his elbow, but she forbade it.” Neither is it the love of yesterday with clouds of doubt or suspicion sailing across its sky, but with a clear blue heaven of steadfast truth reaching to its horizon, and making the heart rejoice in the assurance of the gods.”

“You were with the magicians last night?” she enquired, hastily connecting his reference with the conversation of yesterday.

“Yes! did you imagine I could be content to leave one doubt of yours unsolved?”

“But you have suffered, dear - needlessly suffered to gratify my foolishness! Now I begin to understand why you are so changed - so ill. Oh, Glarces, forgive me! It was wrong - inhuman; but I did not think that you would treat my foolish fears so seriously.”

“ What have I done that so far exceeds your expectations?” he asked, with innocent surprise. “Should I be worthy even of your respect if I had hesitated to go to any length to prove the truth of falsehood of your doubts? I would do that much in my affection for Lais, and how much more for you! But do not speak of suffering or sacrifice in connection with love such as ours. My heart hungers for every new service you command, and the more you ask the more my joy increases. It is passion that counts by suffering and sacrifice, not love.”

“But I can see and recognise the sacrifice, and you must not - shall not do this thing again.” Then, rousing into a sudden vehemence she exclaimed, “By all the gods, if you attempt it I will hate you for your recklessness.”

“Why recklessness?”

“Because it is a risk you have no right to brave! Of what use would fidelity of friends or life itself be to me without my love - my other self? Do you think I am willing to endanger you though a thousand Lais should seek to betray or conspire against me? If you do you have much to learn before you understand how a woman loves the man who holds her heart.”

“I think I do know and try to appreciate the greatest, noblest love the gods have ever placed in woman's keeping; has not its sweet divinity taken my heart captive; strange man as I know myself to be, have I not found in you all that my exacting soul demands; and must not the captor be superior to the captive? So, dear, am I love's slave unworthy, undeserving, but still yours, and I am satisfied. But hear me, love, let us not speak again of betrayals or conspiracies. Our doubts were all unfounded. The gods have spoken by the oracle, and we have been unjust.”

Zillah listened with every sense alert. The lovers had grown too accustomed to her presence to be conscious of it, and to-day they were doubly oblivious of the fact. But had the Prince once caught a glimpse of her unusually animated face, with eager sparkling eyes looking far away, it might have caused him to doubt the truth of the oracle, or, at least, dispense with the girl's presence. But she was careful he did not see it.

“Who made the consultation? Have you confidence in the accuracy of the answer?” Vedrona enquired, with a mixture of doubt and hope.

“Yes, I can trust the reply,” he replied reflectively. “I could not trust another in such an enquiry, so I dared to stand before the oracle myself.”

An involuntary exclamation of horror escaped the Princess as she heard this appalling announcement. It had long been the habit of professors of the mystic cult to surround personal consultation at the oracle with such prohibitive consequences and deterring dangers that the practice had entirely ceased in Sahama. The wish had been to encourage enquiry by proxy, with a view of reducing their own labours to a minimum. The success was too complete. A superstitious fear filled the minds of the people against all consultation, and, even by means of astrologers, it was seldom one found courage to seek for advice through the only religious means at their disposal. The cessation of the practice continually increased the dread and horror with which it was regarded, until the settled conviction prevailed that the risk entailed was almost certain death. This will account for Vedrona's alarm.

“You! . . . Glarces! . . . have you dared to join in those awful mysteries?” she gasped.

“Yes, my love,” he answered, as if he was only referring to a contest in the gymnasium,” I would dare the power of a hundred oracles, if need be, to learn the truth.”

“But you did it – to - satisfy my foolish jealousy!”

By this time the full force of the superstition had taken hold upon her. Her face was livid, and a cold clammy perspiration rolled in beads of terror down her forehead. She trembled as under the influence of a nightmare, and her passionless voice was hard and distant.

“No, no! It was no foolish idea, but an honest doubt, and the love I bear you compelled me to set it at rest for ever. There was nothing to cause you any alarm, dear. Besides, it is all over now, and I am back again!”

“Where did you go - what did you do?”

“When I bade Meshrac to read the stars again yesterday I told him if the message was not definite or clear, to make preparation for me to stand before the oracle, in the most sacred and solemn hour of midnight. The stars did not speak clearly, so he consulted his brethren, and it was decided to acquaint the great Rab-nag of my intention.”

“They told Rhea?”

“Yes! and she came to Velia to preside over the oracle.” “Did you see her?”

“Yes, dear; I saw and spoke with her, whose eyes alone have been permitted to look upon the mighty gods.”

“You saw her - took part in her awful incantations, and have come back to me alive?”

“I did think I had come back, and apart from the exhaustion it entailed, I did not find the experience so terrible as we have been led to imagine; but you almost make me doubt whether I am back and if the worst is over. Your fright almost makes me wonder if you have not found me in that blackness you spoke of, and question whether there is a more severe ordeal ahead. Wake up, dear; wake up! and he tenderly shook the icy hand he held to rouse her from her somnolence. “Rouse yourself and look upon me, then you will know that I am back again, and all the danger is over.”

He carried his point; by the overpowering force of his will, or love, he broke the spell of the fascination, and she slowly returned to a normal condition, much to his relief, He watched the transition patiently, with the determined look of a hypnotist compelling a subject to obey him, and when the doubt was over his eyes softened into a very tender solicitude. She met his gaze. They did not speak, but the mysteriously secret spring of life was touched, the one transcendent miracle of human experience wrought, and in the great revelation of love they knew as they were known. In that rebound from fear their souls reached the blissful heights of heaven's true Elysium, where none can linger but for one exquisite, and never-to-be-repeated dream, in which soul loses itself in soul, and nothing exists but love.

In that transfiguring revelation they lingered willingly, the silent language of their hearts rising into passionate eloquence and eyes making full and free confession where the tongue can find no power of speech. Then her head drooped - slowly, unconsciously. He saw it coming and smiled, as he divined its welcome purpose. Not as at other times did he seek to evade it, but rather prepared to receive it with honour. Down, down, more tempting as it fell with pursuing lips scarcely able so long to sustain their burden until they rested and exchanged that first full, free, and admitted kiss of love in which heart blends with heart and life with life without the intermixture of a base desire.

With that indescribable thrill of happiness which advises the termination of such moments of satisfaction, Vedrona presently recalled herself to hear the end of her brother's story.

“Yes, yes! You have come back - but not the old Glarces; you are the one I always wanted and could never find. Tell me what has worked so great a change and made my life so much happier than it has been heretofore.” No, I must not frighten you again.”

“But it will not - cannot. See! I have overcome that, have found an antidote to fear - I even owe it a debt of gratitude - and want to know how it all came about.”

“Are you sure you can bear it?”

“I am confident of it, and since you are my slave, I command your obedience.”

“When Rhea arrived it appears she made the first consultation at the outer shrine, but I was not satisfied with the communication, and determined to proceed. They cautioned me of the dangers in the way, and advised that I should leave the enquiry in their hands, but I would not, and presently stood before the altar of sacred fire.”

Vedrona shuddered. “Was it very terrible?” she asked “Not more so than I was able to endure,” he replied evasively. “But I cannot tell you, neither could you understand. When all was over and the reply announced I was still not satisfied, and asked to go forward until I stood before the altar on the boundary of the underworld, where I spake with Neocles, our father, whose lips were unsealed for me by Zaclas.”

Whatever she had imagined the nature of these rites to be she was not prepared for such an announcement, but revolted in horror, not only at the thought that he had dared to risk the danger of such unnatural association, but also that one so dear - so essentially part of herself as she had discovered him to be - should be led into such a situation merely to satisfy her foolish ideas and doubts. The horrible background of the experience threw the value of her brother's love into striking relief to her tormented mind.

“Spake with our father!” she gasped.

“I did, my love! And from him whose voice would not break the silence of death to deceive me - whose shade watches in constant guardianship over the welfare of our house - I have been assured that all rumours and our fears are groundless, since the future is safe. Is not this enough to secure our happiness and contentment?”

“I am more than content; but oh, my poor, unselfish heroic brother, had I known my foolish fancies of yesterday would cost such a price to satisfy, I had not told you though they had been a thousand times more serious. By what right did I dare to trifle with the wealth of such a love? But I have been careless – blind - and failed to understand or appreciate you until, had it not been for the protecting care of the gods, I had lost you - thrown your love recklessly away and left my whole life a desolate ruin. Can you for give me, dear? You, who are so much above all other men, whose eyes are clear with the vision of the immortals, can you understand the grief of my repentance? Can your heroic heart become so generous as to pardon this great wrong? Oh, my brother, say it can - it will, for the thought of my folly crushes me, and unless you will save me I must die.”

He attempted to rise and put an end to this wild expression of mistaken sorrow, but she had thrown herself upon his breast, and he was compelled to submit until the storm of her tears had produced the quiet of exhaustion.

“If there is aught of wrong, my own beloved,” he answered presently,” it lies with me - and I alone! Had I performed the duty that was clearly mine, I should have seen the clouds before their shadows fell across your path. It was I who was blind. If there has been folly and carelessness, it was on my part, and I need to be forgiven. But it is over now. The clouds have disappeared, and the future is all the brighter for the storm that has broken over us. We are nearer to-day than yesterday - know and understand each other better. If the experience was sharp its effect is sweet. If the step by which I have come nearer has been one of fire, it has only purified and left me a better man, I hope, than it found me. Come, my sister, we can be glad and rejoice, now that the clouds are gone. Let us to our mother and tell her of the message from Neocles. It will make her glad to know that I have spoken with him.”

He threw his arm round to support her, and with a chastened smile breaking through her storm-swept face they left the room.