"Be still, little lady. I leap!" The voice came from the pedestal, and
next moment Phoebus had jumped from the pedestal in his little
temple, clearing the steps, and landing a couple of yards away.
"You are new," said Phoebus over his graceful shoulder. "I should
not have forgotten you if once I had seen you."
"I am," said Kathleen, "quite, quite new. And I didn't know you
could talk."
"Why not?" Phoebus laughed. "You can talk."
"But I'm alive."
"Am not I?" he asked.
"Oh, yes, I suppose so," said Kathleen, distracted, but not afraid;
"only I thought you had to have the ring on before one could even
see you move."
Phoebus seemed to understand her, which was rather to his credit,
for she had certainly not expressed herself with clearness.
"Ah! that's for mortals," he said. "We can hear and see each other
in the few moments when life is ours. That is a part of the
beautiful enchantment."
"But I am a mortal," said Kathleen.
"You are as modest as you are charming," said Phoebus Apollo
absently; "the white water calls me! I go," and the next moment
rings of liquid silver spread across the lake, widening and
widening, from the spot where the white joined hands of the
Sun-god had struck the water as he dived.
Kathleen turned and went up the hill towards the rhododendron
bushes. She must find Mabel, and they must go home at once.
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