“For reason, dear Prince. It is no light matter to find that children are going from one, are eager to make nests for themselves, that they pine not to leave the home tree. Yet, how much more is the weight when these children have been gone weary, cruel years; and make naught of those years in the strength of new, fond feeling.”
“Deucalion, were I the father, I should feel as thou. Yet, there is much that is bright. For, though Æole and Hellen go from thyself and Pyrrha, their sweetest hopes have full being. Happy art thou in that!”
“It is well said. But it cometh hard. When thine own go from thee, thou wilt the better know.”
“May it come to that, dear Deucalion!” He spoke in high glee. “May it come to that—that Æole and I may live to see our children go from us in this way. Then will I think of this and speed them.”
“Thou art of a kind with Peloppa,” laughed Deucalion. And then laughed the prince. For, well had both listened to Friend Pelop: only with this difference that the latter had listened to what concerned Hellen and Electra alone.
“It is great praise to be thus likened, Deucalion. Peloppa is a dear, kind soul. Often have I wanted to listen to her when she hath taken Pelop to one side. Well I know what are her thoughts upon the giving up of children. Well I know what would be her words of cheer did she dream of my hope for Æole. There would I get feeling for feeling!”
“Did she dream of thy hope for Æole? Thinkest thou her eyes have been open but for the other pair? Many times hath Pelop come to whisper what she hath noted, and how warm is her heart for thee. Well is everything for you two settled in her busy mind!”
This left Prince Pelasgus without words. As he stood thus routed, Deucalion, smiling roguishly, turned away.
“Dear Prince, I will leave thee to think upon it.”
As to the visiting, it had been well kept up in these day of calm sailing. For, as the vessels stood at no great height above the water, it was easy to get from one to the other, especially as certain ingenious ladders had been made by the sailors. But, if the visiting went on briskly, even more briskly moved the Pelasgian tongues.