As he passed along, much the people marveled. Never before had a king of Atlantis been known to require protection in driving between the temple and the palace. Attendants, of course, were customary;—but guards! What meant such a passing as this?
CHAPTER XIV.
A TIMELY TORRENT.
Queen Atlana and her young charges were finishing a hurried meal in the most delightful of morning rooms. This was in the east garden, and had for floor, velvety grass; for ceiling, the interlacing boughs of two fragrant acacias; for background, a trellis overrun with morning-glories and flanked at each end by tall white lilies and the high blue shoots of the papyrus.
Further the favorite lotus flowers spread thick on the bosom of a stream to the eastward that was running blithely to lose itself in the beautiful Luith. Flowers, flowers were everywhere; for this was their land. And those of the trellis in their white, pink, blue, crimson, and purple, were preëminent for size and tint.
Who, with any spirituality, can look upon these thick-clustering morning-glories as they open joyfully to the morning sun, and not think of a higher blossoming? In their delicate texture, and soft rich coloring, they suggest the flowers of Heaven. Their ethereal loveliness fills the heart with a most tender rapture. Fit types are they of that fairer blooming of the Uplands, to which the eye has not yet pierced, to which the ear is yet unopened!
The grand eating apartment, or banqueting room, was in the western wing of the palace, and facing the south. But the breakfast room proper faced the east, and overlooked this garden morning room, the latter superseding the former for about three-fourths of the year, from the tenderness of the climate.
In the simplicity of their diet and table service, the Atlanteans might be held an example. Theirs were no cumbersome, broad tables weighed down with plate and ornamentations. The dishes and drinking vessels were of gold, silver, bronze, or tin, as accorded with the degree of the family using; and were of simplest pattern and beaten light, the spiral being the principal adornment. There were spiral handles, and spiral supports to the larger dishes, also. As to the tables, they were hollow, either broken circles or horseshoes in shape, and of three feet in width—of course affording seating capacity on the outer side only. Thus, well could the Atlanteans arrange for effective backgrounds, well could they be served. Further, such waitresses were theirs! Through the openings of these broken circles, or horseshoes, flitted beauteous maidens, white-robed and garlanded, who could but whet the appetite. Maidens ever served in Atlantis. Clever people!
In the middle of her table, sat Queen Atlana, with Æole on the right, and Electra on the left; while, farther along the broken circle, on either side, ranged her ladies. For this morning, there was a visitor—Hellen; and his place was at the end, on the queen’s right.
All were facing the garden, and the sun which was well up; and feeling happily conscious of the fairy-like background, the soft singing stream, the warblers in the acacia blooms overhead, and the lovely gliding maidens attending their few wants.
Three feet was the space allotted each at the table; and the dividing lines were rows of flowers extending crosswise, flowers of scent so delicate that they could not interfere with the appetite of the most sensitive.