The Dreamer of Dreams

hee such a dawn of li

lf

wind, the waves, and the sun. His eyes had taken some of the blue of sea and sky. His

his neck glistened in

g but slowly, because his feet s

im where he went, although no changing beauty of the coast, no

auty was like a picture

lonely coast, and soon all the young man's activity

ft sand, his golden locks hidden amongst the wet pebbles, his heart thumping against his side. But he loved it all, rocks and sea and bur

slippery rocks, Eric reached a quiet little bay, na

t, and the flat little waves hardly made a sound as each

is cloak rolled up under his head, a pleasant drowsi

eard something which sounded like the deep tones of a bell, coming from afar of

xcitement, keenly interested,

and stood, his hand

of a deep-toned bell-and this time he distinguished that the sound

rds it; he could not resist those deep tones calling,

of the air free and joyful, always a song on his lips, loving the sun that shone down

ld not be resisted, and the beautiful youth felt he must follow; so h

rowing, hanging flexible branches covered over and over with some coral-

he dark hard stone high above his head. He lifted some of the long trailing branches in bot

, beneath the coral-coloured plant, like the entry to a cave; he stooped, carefully

ching gait Eric moved along, feeling his way with his hands; it was quite dark, and the

which he had been for some minutes, and little by little Eric distinguis

nd now our wanderer found himself inside

sparent emeralds; and all around was green-the rocks, the sand, the de

at filled this wonderful grotto hung a bell, also green and wondrously shining; and although the rest of the water was absolutely calm, st

stretched, both sides resting on the tinted sand, p

wide, overgrown with slippery, dripping moss as gree

e warning him against some danger-then again it was full of love

ithin its notes anything but entrancing me

t like balancing himself on a tight-rope. This gave him great joy, and his merry laugh echoed round the green walls as if he were joking

omething still more surpris

oting on the slimy moss that clung to it. But Eric was nimble, young, and

and again his eyes distinguished shadowy forms m

striking it on all sides, making its tones so varied a

f the appealing notes,-but he did not understand, he only laughed and stroked the bell,

sed his own, clear and ringing, within which lay all the joy and gladness of an un

reen sides the glad notes resounded like a thousand answers, res

h hands; then hurried on over the perilous bridge, ea

y the green light that shone upon him; another one was penetrating within the dim grotto, showing him a secon

terfly, full of tremendous eagerness for whatever might

h overpowering enchantment, that

what he saw. He was within a hall of purest marble, the walls, and floor, and roof all white and glistening l

long straight folds, and the hem was a thick mass of blazing diamonds. It rippled down the steps of

ite as the draperies on which he couched. His immense head lay upon his formidable paws, his eyes looked out, with a watchful intentness, beneath his tousled ma

led a delicious perfume; a vapour rose from them in hazy cl

ands of milk-white anemones

r petals, which lay like s

ass of fair hair covering her sho

ones fitting closely to her forehead; but the strangest of

und round her temples bene

statue; the light of the candles alone flickered in the still air, and the little

eyes, in the great hope that it might hide the look for which he was ever restlessly searching. Suddenly the beautiful vision r

ng behind her, sweeping away the fallen leaves of the flowers, the preci

ced, as she placed them by turns on

ands outstretched before her, with

must take one of those groping hands and lead th

y coming, fair stranger. I have been sitting here on my throne

ut now that thou hast reached me I shall open unt

now that thou art here," and so saying, with a gentle movement she laid one of her arms about the

nce, as in a trance, he let himself be led by this matchless being of light, and s

witchery of her voice-not quite conscious of all she was saying, but the sound was so sweet, and the

he bandage from her eyes. He felt his will mel

golden waves around him-about all the wonders she was going to show him if he would only remain with her,-of all the riches she would strew before his feet, the music she would play him, the m

not leave her! Why should he go from anything

ng hands that caressed him so softly; oh, wit

w back her hea

, only it was like a little icy drop of water running down between his shoulders-and he wished she would not laugh;

and, seizing both her hands, he begged to b

drew back, disengaging he

d, and once more her

t once? This cloth over my eyes must remain till I give thee leave

nderstanding but badly how to spend thy riche

ace quite close to his, her lips hi

f all must I know thy history and why thou art thus

the ardent need of finding the face and eyes he wanted for completing his masterpiece. "And perhaps thou hidest behind that cloth the very eye

d excited, his bright eyes entreating, his body quivering;

t give me thy hand and I shall lead thee through the joys I have in store for thee, and at the end thou mayest quite forget wha

nter clung to her cool hand, and let him

ollow, follow, because he had given over his will into those outstretched