A Few Hours in a Far-Off Age/Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII.
BATH and dressing have not occupied more than ten minutes—yet here she is, fit to join the most resplendent company that ever was.
Again Leo growls.
This time Vefitée admits him. In passing me he mutters discontentedly—strange coincidence, if it is one! or can animals know more than humankind? Can Leoni know there is in this pure life a remnant—or visitor, or whatever my presence here may mean—from the ignorant ages?
The girl walks to and fro, reflecting—the dog or tiger, whichever it is, following her closely.
Now she seats herself, Leo stands before her and looks wistfully in her eyes, as if he would dearly love to communicate something. She takes his massive head between her hands, and looking affectionately at him, says:
"Now, Leoni, kind old tiger, you are not acting quite honorably to-day. You know I allowed you to enter earlier on condition that you would lie quietly and not disturb my thoughts." Here the faithful beast looks appealingly at her, as if to reply: "Dear mistress mine, how I burn to tell you of danger near." Then, feeling how impossible it is, he lays his enormous paw upon her knee—which looks as if it might break her delicate leg—turns towards me and utters a menacing growl.
"Leoni you are certainly inexplicable."Removing his paw from her knee, she has an expression like that I saw on her mother's face in the gallery. Has the animal directed her thought?
"Leoni, my friend, I have been thinking that both you and I had decidedly objectionable ancestor; but (caressing him) they are not here to prevent us from doing our duty in this better life. Go you, dear fellow and lie down while I think about our wretched past. If you disturb me again, I must dismiss you."
The last words were said so decisively that the tiger instantly obeyed, his furry face expressing love and sadness as plainly as I have seen them in human countenance.
Veritée again walks her room—a perfect young beauty in her meditation! I feel it would be a very long time before I should grow weary of the picture now before me. Soft landscape, seen through the glass door. Tiger lying in attitude of repose, with eyes so devotedly watchful! The light statue. Total absence of tawdry, senseless ornaments, the only decoration being fine painting on the walls. A very pleasant light from above; and this graceful, beautiful, high-minded girl thinking deeply while she walks to and from me.
Having walked during fully half an hour, she seats herself at the table and writes in a large book, on the cover of which is "Thoughts."