As for Eëtíon, through what a range of feeling had he been carried in these moments? First, joy like an unbidden melody, because his beloved was in the house; then strong joy because he might see her as she passed; then horror at her disappearance. Why had she gone? What had Nikander done to her to make her run away? What cruel thing had he said? But there was no time even to be angry. Theria must be found and that quickly before the Persians should arrive. Eëtíon looked at Nikander, begging for a boon.
“If I might help to find her,” he ventured; “but let me go my own way while you go another. We must search everywhere at once.”
Nikander read his unspoken fear. Women must not be abroad when the Persians were in the country. There was not an instant to lose.
“Nikander, I am presumptuous to give advice,” said Eëtíon. “But send also messengers to the port. I beg you do that.”
It seemed to Nikander that he was sending messengers to the four quarters of the earth for his vanished children. He answered hurriedly:
“Dear Eëtíon, you are wise, I can hardly think out this thing.” He was too occupied to notice Eëtíon’s emotion.
Dryas had meantime fetched a fresh chiton for his friend. “You cannot go forth in that stained cloak,” he told him. “Dear Eëtíon, how excited you are, how like a kinsman you care for us. We’ll find her in a half hour. She ran away once before, you know. I know exactly where she’s run to.”
Eëtíon was so angry that he dared not answer Dryas. How little the shallow fellow knew of his sister’s character and ways. Eëtíon was glad when they all left the house.
How foolish they were, running hither and yon without thought. In Eëtíon’s Argos were many shepherds and when a sheep was lost they did not go forth in this wise, but first thought about the paths, and the simple sheep reasoning, and then went and found.
This flight of Theria’s was of course connected with the message which Eëtíon had himself given to her. She had not sent for her father, but, true heart that she was, she had brought the news herself. But why had she fled forth like this?