Listless! Ah, the dear child! She would be listless no longer now that this supreme task had been thrust into her hands. How strangely that had been done, as if the god had done it beyond all human planning. Ah, what a task! The eloquent statements of the afternoon had set the colony glowing in Nikander’s mind. That Theria his child had been chosen leader still filled him with an amazed joy. And Timon’s words! They thrilled back upon Nikander like a triumphal song. He was newly proud, newly tender toward his child who, unaided, had faced death from the god. But Timon had recognized the real power of the girl which had quite escaped the father who loved her. Nikander wondered at this so-common experience. Theria was as good as a son to him now. Had this happened to Lycophron or Dryas could he be any happier than he was at this moment?
He turned impatiently to Melantho.
“Think you she is asleep?” he asked.
“Who, Theria? No, hardly yet. Have you something for her to do?”
“By the gods, yes,” answered Nikander, and strode off like a boy to Theria’s room.
Yes, she was asleep. How strange to see her bright face so quieted. Gods! What a quantity of dark hair she had spreading out over her pillow. What a young child she was, after all.
“Theria,” he said, touching her shoulder.
Her eyes opened wide and alarmed.
“Father, what has happened?”
“Something wonderful, dear child, but you can never guess it. Are you awake enough to understand?”