|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 65
"My mother's name; the year I was born. My mother!" he repeated
softly, taking up the old yellow gloves. "And this room was my
birthplace,--and my little sister's! My mother's things, as she left
them; for father once told me that he never entered her room after she
was buried. She died here; and here my little sister and I began to
live. And here I am, again,--really the same little helpless innocent
baby who cried on that bed so long ago. Only not innocent now!
Perhaps, not helpless, either!
"How happy that barber was yesterday! prattled about being born again.
Cannot I be born again,--to-day,--in this room? Here I first began,
and have come round the world to my starting-point. I will begin
afresh this morning."
And heavily as he was weighted in the new race, he would not be
disheartened. Unuttered resolves brightened his eyes and made his
courage high.
Before beginning breakfast, he returned to the window and drank again
of the divine blue and green. From the branch of a near tree the
hoopoe startled him and made him color. Was the bird an emissary from
Gnulemah? Balder's mouth drew back, and his chin and eyes
strengthened, as though some part of his unuttered resolves were
recalled by the thought of her.
When he was ready to go, he turned at the door, and threw a parting
glance round the dainty old-fashioned chamber, trying to gather into
one all the thoughts, memories, and resolves connected with it. He
had nearly forgotten the frescos; the victorious sunshine had reduced
the figures, satanic or beautiful, to a meaningless agglomeration of
wandering lines and faded colors. As for his own portrait, it was no
longer distinguishable.
XXII.
HEART AND HEAD.
Balder easily found his way to the conservatory, but it was
empty,--Gnulemah, at least, was not there! The tapestry curtain in her
doorway was pushed aside, the door itself open. Where should he seek
her?
As he stood in doubt, he saw lying at his feet a violet. Picking it
up, he saw another some distance beyond it, and still another on the
threshold which he had just crossed. They were Gnulemah's
footsteps,--the scent of this sweet quarry, teaching him how to follow
her. So he followed, nor let one fragrant trace escape him; and
presently he had a nosegay of them.
She was out of doors, then. Truly, on such a day as this, where else
should she be? What walls could presume to hold her? Her loveliness
was at one with nature's, and they attracted each other. To the
solitary nymph, her mighty playmate had been all-sufficient; for she
saw not the earth and sky as they appear nowadays to mankind, but the
divine meaning which they clothe. Thus she could converse with
animals, and could read plants and stones more profoundly than
botanist or geologist. She followed inward to her own fresh and
beautiful soul the sympathies which allied her to outward things, and
found there their true prototypes.
But when the strong magnetism of a new human spirit began to act upon
her, these fine communings with nature suffered disturbance. In such
thunderstorms as the meeting of the electric forces must engender,
there was need of a trustworthier safeguard than simple perception of
a divine purpose underlying creation. Only the personal God is strong
enough to govern the relations of soul with soul. Barren of Eve, Adam
would not have fallen; but with her he will one day not only retrieve
his fall, but climb to a sublimer height than any to which he could
have aspired alone.
Balder strolled out on the wide lawn. Southwestward wound an avenue of
great trees, overshadowing the narrow footpath that stole beneath
them. To the right, round the northern corner of the house, he could
see far off the white tops of the blossoming apple-trees; and beyond,
the river. The orchard perfume came riding on the untamed breeze, and
whispered a fragrant secret in the young man's ear. Orchardward he
pursued his search.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|