The Keepers of the People

CHAPTER X

THE REVOLT OF ALTHEA

652Althea awoke very early, and considered a while what she should do — go to sleep again, or read; then a twitter of sparrows suggested to her that she should go out. Alrasch was to hand, and she could deal with the front door. She dressed herself quickly, and came out of the house. In the clear light of the early morning the streets seemed to her to wear a changed air, as though before she had only seen the people in them and never the streets themselves; and on her way to the Park she pondered the change. In the Park, she went to the Serpentine, and finding the ducks hungry, resolved to bring them some bread another morning. Then feeling drowsy, she sat herself down on a seat, and watched with lazy interest the curious gait of a young man coming towards her. He wavered rather than lurched from side to side, as he came; and now and again he would stop, appearing to apostrophise the sky and water with uncertain gestures. When he came nearer she could hear that he was muttering verses, and her interest quickened. He stopped, or rather brought himself to a wavering standstill before her, and stared at her, the wildness in his eyes fading to an admiration. Then he said in a breathless voice, “O beautiful child!”

653Althea was pleased, and considered him thoughtfully. She liked his face, though it wore, save for a faint vinous flush on the cheeks, the greenish pallor of the debauchee in the dawn. They looked at one another a while, and then he said, “May I look at you? Do you mind?”

654“No,” said Althea.

655He sank down on the gravel, with no very certain control of his muscles; and with his chin on his hand, and his elbow on his knee, gazed at her with devouring eyes, the haggard lines smoothing out of his face. Althea watched the strange creature curiously.

656Presently he murmured, half to himself, “O beautiful dawn-child, I have been torn by devils; and your eyes are healing my scarred soul.”

657Althea was a little shocked; but she was too drowsy from the morning air to protest.

658“Surely you come from the very morning of the world, the daughter of Nausicaa. Or are you the young Diana — Diana, too young to hunt anything but the little fawns? But no: Diana had red hair. Or are you Endymion’s child and Diana’s?”