 catastrophe follows, the
prophet, for the honour of the profession, must decry her as cunning beyond
aught yet revealed of a serpent sex.
    Save for a word or two, the watchman might have overheard and trumpeted his
report of their interview at Diana's house. After the first pained breathing,
when they found themselves alone in that room where they had plighted their
fortunes, they talked allusively to define the terms imposed on them by Reason.
The thwarted step was unmentioned; it was a past madness. But Wisdom being
recognized, they could meet. It would be hard if that were denied! They talked
very little of their position; both understood the mutual acceptance of it; and
now that he had seen her and was again under the spell, Dacier's rational mind,
together with his delight in her presence, compelled him honourably to bow to
the terms. Only, as these were severe upon lovers, the innocence of their
meetings demanded indemnification in frequency.
    »Come whenever you think I can be useful,« said Diana.
    They pressed hands at parting, firmly and briefly, not for the ordinary
dactylology of lovers, but in sign of the treaty of amity.
    She soon learnt that she had tied herself to her costly household.
 

                                 Chapter XXVIII

Dialogue Round the Subject of a Portrait, with Some Indications of the Task for
                                     Diana

An enamoured Egeria who is not a princess in her worldly state nor a goddess by
origin has to play one of those parts which strain the woman's faculties past
naturalness. She must never expose her feelings to her lover; she must make her
counsel weighty; otherwise she is little his nymph of the pure wells, and what
she soon may be, the world will say. She has also, most imperatively, to dazzle
him without the betrayal of artifice, where simple spontaneousness is beyond
conjuring. But feelings that are constrained becloud the judgement besides
arresting the fine jet of delivery wherewith the mastered lover is taught
through his ears to think himself prompted, and submit to be controlled, by a
creature super-feminine. She must make her counsel so weighty in poignant
praises as to repress impulses that would rouse her own; and her betraying
impulsiveness was a subject of reflection to Diana after she had given Percy
Dacier, metaphorically, the key of her house. Only as his true Egeria could she
receive him. She was therefore grateful, she thanked and venerated this noblest
of lovers for his not pressing to the word of love, and so strengthening her to
point his mind, freshen his moral energies and inspirit him. His chivalrous
acceptance of the
