XII Apollo's Lyre

           Onthisway,theyreachedtheroof.Christinetrippedoveritaslightlyasaswallow.Theireyesswepttheemptyspacebetweenthethreedomesandthetriangularpediment.ShebreathedfreelyoverParis,thewholevalleyofwhichwasseenatworkbelow.ShecalledRaoultocomequiteclosetoherandtheywalkedsidebysidealongthezincstreets,intheleadenavenues;theylookedattheirtwinshapesinthehugetanks,fullofstagnantwater,where,inthehotweather,thelittleboysoftheballet,ascoreorso,learntoswimanddive.

           Theshadowhadfollowedbehindthemclingingtotheirsteps;andthetwochildrenlittlesuspecteditspresencewhentheyatlastsatdown,trustingly,underthemightyprotectionofApollo,who,withagreatbronzegesture,liftedhishugelyretotheheartofacrimsonsky.

           Itwasagorgeousspringevening.Clouds,whichhadjustreceivedtheirgossamerrobeofgoldandpurplefromthesettingsun,driftedslowlyby;andChristinesaidtoRaoul:

           "Soonweshallgofartherandfasterthantheclouds,totheendoftheworld,andthenyouwillleaveme,Raoul.But,if,whenthemomentcomesforyoutotakemeaway,Irefusetogowithyou—wellyoumustcarrymeoffbyforce!"

           "Areyouafraidthatyouwillchangeyourmind,Christine?"

           "Idon’tknow,"shesaid,shakingherheadinanoddfashion."Heisademon!"Andsheshiveredandnestledinhisarmswithamoan."Iamafraidnowofgoingbacktolivewithhim...intheground!"

           "Whatcompelsyoutogoback,Christine?"

           "IfIdonotgobacktohim,terriblemisfortunesmayhappen!...ButIcan’tdoit,Ican’tdoit!...