154
RENA
Suddenly the air grew heavy as with magical perfume,
And a weird and wondrous splendor filled the dim and silent room.
And a weird and wondrous splendor filled the dim and silent room.
In the middle of the chamber stood a lady fair and sweet,
With bright tresses falling softly to her small and sandalled feet.
With bright tresses falling softly to her small and sandalled feet.
Flushed her cheeks were as a wild rose, and the glory of her eyes
Was the laughing light and glory of the kindling morning skies.
Was the laughing light and glory of the kindling morning skies.
Airy robes of lightest tissue from her white arms floated free;
They seemed woven of the mist that curls above the azure sea,
They seemed woven of the mist that curls above the azure sea,
Wrought in curious devices, star and wheel and leaf and flower,
That, like frost upon a window-pane, might vanish in an hour.
That, like frost upon a window-pane, might vanish in an hour.
In her hands she bore a cushion, quaintly fashioned, strangely set
With small silver pins that spanned it like a branching coronet:
With small silver pins that spanned it like a branching coronet:
And from threads of finest texture swung light bobbins to and fro,
As the lady stood illumined in the weird and wondrous glow.
As the lady stood illumined in the weird and wondrous glow.
Not a single word she uttered; but, as silent as a shade,
Down the room she swiftly glided and beside the startled maid
Down the room she swiftly glided and beside the startled maid
Knelt, a radiant vision, smiling into Rena's wondering eyes,
Giving arch yet gracious answer to her tremulous surprise.
Giving arch yet gracious answer to her tremulous surprise.
