I thought there was a shade of disappointment in my friend's
face, as Chapman drew me to one side, and I stepped quickly back to him,
and said: 'Will you not go with us, too? You first cared for me and
brought me food and raiment.' His eyes were again bright with peace.
'No, my new friend, I cannot go now. I am waiting, waiting here at the
City of Light, watching the spirits, if perchance my son from your earth
is amongst them. Surely he will come some day, and then my happiness
will be all God can make it.'
"We hurried away to the Chamber of the Council. Once more through the
devious paths of the great groups of buildings which make up the
Patenta, between the flowering trees and the tulip flowered vines we
made our way, with feet so buoyant and so strong that we seemed almost
to fly.
"The Chamber of the Council of the Patenta was a beautiful room. It was
one of the few great chambers in the City of Light, dressed in color and
tapestries. A deep carpet of scarlet Talta wool covered the floor, and
there hung at irregular intervals from a silver cornice deep green
curtains. The furniture was very wonderful. A dark wood, like teak,
opulently fitted with silver, formed the great table that occupied the
center of the room, as also the heavy chairs on which were placed
cushions of a golden yellow silk. There were no windows in the room. The
light entered from above through two simple round apertures covered with
white glass.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126