“I was there at wish of thy father. He feared Atlano might send spies upon you. Further, I wished to speak with Hellen.”
“Were there spies?”
“Twice, far off, I saw figures; but, as I bounded toward them, they fled.”
“What a mercy! And what good did thy words do Hellen. Dear Hellen, what he hath borne! But he forgetteth, now that he is thus happy.”
He looked at her intently. “Æole, hast thou ever witnessed any as happy as himself and Electra?”
“Never have I been with two that have promised to wed. But there are my mother and father, Pelop and Peloppa.”
“Mighty is such feeling; and mightiest, if answered.”
Æole, affected at his tone, looked at him to find that he was gazing at her very strangely. If ever eyes were full of love, his were. And he was seizing her hand. The moment had come. Oh, for time to speak!
“Æole, thou must know why I spoke thus of Hellen and Electra. They are one pair. There should be another. We should be as they. Tell me that thou carest for me. For ever since I first beheld thee in the temple hath my heart gone out to thee. Only thou canst be my wife!”
Her hands were pressed hard in his, her little hands, that, like her whole body, were trembling; and her face had become as a lily. Scarcely could she support herself. Perceiving this, he relinquished the hands, and put his arms about her.