The Keepers of the People

CHAPTER VIII

ALTHEA ASKS A BOON

1103On her wanderings during the early days in the palace, Althea had gone into the garden around the Pavilion of Wonderful Delights, and had explored and admired the curious beauties of the Pavilion itself. But she had not been thither many months, since she thought that no one dwelt in it, and the locked gate prevented her entrance. Then one day she was strolling idly through the garden next to it, when she heard a light laugh on the other side of the wall. Wondering who it might be, she tapped at the gate; and the mute guard, thinking that it was one of the maids, opened to her. Althea seeing the uncertain look that came on his face at the sight of her, stepped in swiftly; and he, seeing that it was too late to prevent her entrance, and knowing that she could not be turned back, saluted, and shut the gate. The laugh rang out again, and Althea went quietly towards it; coming through the trees to a little lawn, she found Latchimi in the midst of half a dozen maids. She had marked a little circle on a tree, and from ten yards away was throwing her knife into it. When it struck fair in the circle, she laughed; when it missed, she stamped her foot. Althea watched her, admiring her delicate face, the grace and strength of her supple figure, and the dexterity of her knife-play. Then desirous of learning it, she came out of the trees on to the lawn. Latchimi turned with a little cry, and faced her; the maids bowed low to Althea; and the two girls stood for a moment, considering one another with an equal admiration.

1104“The Golden Lily” said Latchimi softly, in her own tongue.

1105“Who are you? What is your name?” said Althea in Varandal.

1106Latchimi shook her head; and they gazed at one another at a loss. Then Althea tried one of the signs of the language of the mutes; Latchimi smiled and answered with a sign, and they laughed pleasantly at one another. In a little while Althea was practising throwing the knife, and Latchimi was laughing and clapping her hands as she missed, or hit the circle. The sound of her laugh was very pleasant to Althea; she heard no laughter in the palace but her own, and the grim chuckle of Colonel Sayers; and she had not talked with any one who laughed with her for many a long day. When they tired of throwing the knife, Latchimi led her to the Pavilion of Wonderful Delights, and regaled her on sweetmeats and pleasant drinks made, after the fashion of her people, from the juices of fruits: she too was very pleased to find some one who would laugh with her.