St. George was prepared for a mere procession of palace ghosts, but
at this strange visitor he stared for an uncomprehending moment.
"What are you doing here?" he said wonderingly to him; "what in the
world are you doing here?"
The old man looked uncertainly about him, one hand spread against
the pillar behind him, the other fumbling at his throat.
"I think," he answered almost indistinguishably, "I think that I
meant to sit here--to sit in the room beyond, where the mock stars
shine."
Olivia uttered an exclamation.
"How could he possibly know that?" she said.
"But what does he mean?" asked St. George.
She crossed swiftly to a portiere hanging by slender rings from the
full height of the lofty room, and at her bidding St. George
followed her. She pushed aside the curtain, revealing a huge cave of
the dark, a room whose walls were sunk in shadow. But overhead the
ceiling was constellated in stars, so that it seemed to St. George
as if he were looking into a nearer heaven, homing the far lights
that he knew.
Pages:
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349