while the Laureate had thus joyously greeted his returned guest;
but now, at a signal from their lord, they again advanced, and
taking up the glittering dishes of fruit and the flasks of wine,
proffered them in turn to Theos with much deferential grace and
courtesy. He was by no means slow in responding to the humble
attentions of these fair ones, . . there was a sort of deliciously
dreamy enchantment in being waited upon by such exquisitely lovely
creatures! The passing touch of their little white hands that
supported the heavy golden salvers seemed to add new savor to the
luscious fare,--the timorous fire of their downcast eyes, softly
sparkling through the veil of their long lashes, gave extra warmth
to the ambrosial wine,--and he could not refrain from occasionally
whispering a tender flattery or delicate compliment in the ear of
one or other of his sylph-like servitors, though they all appeared
curiously unmoved by his choicely worded adulation. Now and then a
pale, flickering blush or sudden smile brightened their faces, but
for the most part they maintained a demure and serious demeanor,
as though possessed by the very spirit of invincible reserve. With
Sah-luma it was otherwise,--they hovered about him like
butterflies round a rose,--a thousand wistful, passionate glances
darted upon him, when he, unconscious or indifferent, apparently
saw nothing,--many a deep, involuntary sigh was stifled quickly
ere it could escape between the rosy lips whose duty it was to
wreathe themselves with smiles, and Theos noticing these things
thought:

"Heavens! how this man is loved!--and yet ... he, out of all men,
is perhaps the most ignorant of Love's true meaning!"

Scarcely had this reflection entered his mind than he became