“Electra hath told us of thy fond feeling for her mother.”
“Yea. We were most dear to each other. The horror of it, the crime, that Electra hath been called to the temple!”
“Queen Atlana, why is it a crime?”
“Hellen, I will tell thee.” She looked about her in fear, before whispering:
“It is—that, at times, the handmaids have been called to the inner holy place, where only the highest priests and the king can serve. And—these handmaids never have been heard of more. Never hath one been seen after passing into the inner holy place.”
Alas for poor Hellen! He could only break away and utter cry after cry of dismay until speech came.
“What can I do? What can I do? Ah, why have I not known this?”
“It is wise for these Atlanteans, in their lack of spirit, to be quiet, Hellen. But, hearken.” Her tone was calm with all its anguish. Insensibly, he also calmed, and again knelt beside her.
“I must tell thee—these handmaids who have thus vanished were the fairest of their sisters. Thus do I fear for Æole and Electra.”
Hellen, groaning, sank prostrate, unnerved.