out into the darkness, she cried:

'Saronia, Saronia, the Saronide, where art thou--my mother who bore me?
Let me touch thy hand! Speak to me--to me!'

But she grasped the empty space; not even the echo of a whisper fell.
Then she cried again:

'_Thou_ art _beyond_ my plane, or thou wouldst come to me. Thou art
greater than I. Hear me, ye spirits of the air! Listen, spirits of lands
and seas! Hearken, ye spirits of Elysium and Hades! Here in the
darkness, here in the womb of night, here near the birth of the early
dawn, here with a soul storm-tossed and driven, I swear I will find her.
Her God shall be mine, and where she riseth I will follow. O light, O
truth, O love, let me climb your ladders of gold!'

The dawn appeared in the east, breaking the gray on the ocean's rim, and
the birds sang forth from the trees in the Sacred Grove.

CHAPTER XXIX

MYRTLE AND OLEANDER

'Varro, goest thou to the Temple to-day?' said Nika.

'Yes, dearest; Chios is to receive the golden crown and freedom of this
city.'

'I trust those honours will sit lightly on him.'

'Fear not, Nika. He is very stolid. Really, I do not know what has come
to him.'

'I do,' said she laughingly; 'he is in love.'

'Nonsense! Nothing of the kind. He would never trouble about such a
thing.'

'How knowest thou?'

'How do I know? Well, really, I cannot answer thee, but thou must know
if a man loves there must be something to love. Chios is a confirmed
bachelor. I believe he almost hates women; that is to say, as far as
making himself a lover. I never even knew him to commit the crime of a
weak flirtation.'

'Ah, ah! So much for the reading of a man's mind by a man. Let a woman
make up a man, and thou, mighty Roman, read the minds of women. 'Tis
more natural.'

'Well, Nika, I must away. I must leave thee. The time is short, and I
have business of my own before I go to the Temple. There will be no
public demonstration. Chios wishes it so.'

'Before thou dost depart, listen. Something befitting the occasion
comes to my mind. Send him a message of congratulation. Write it with
thine own hand, and seal it with the stamp of Imperial Rome. He will
cherish it more than many crowns.'

'Very thoughtful of thee. It shall be done. The presentation takes place
within the Temple. The great priestess will be there, and, if I can so
arrange, she, his preserver, shall present it. Nice idea, is it not?'