Summer had laid her hands upon the land, broadening with vigorous
strokes the delicate colours of the faded spring. Fields of corn and
barley were ripening, and far away on the uplands crimson poppies lay
sleeping in the sunlight.
Beryl waited outside the village on the longest day of the year. In
white robes and silken cap she watched for the passing of Time. Before
the day began to wane a chariot, drawn by the Winds, dashed along the
road which led to the Village of Youth. The maiden, though half dead
with terror, flung herself down before the gates with a loud cry. She
felt herself raised from the ground, and on opening her eyes found that
she was in the arms of a ragged youth. His face was beautiful beyond all
description, though its expression was full of sorrow; his garments were
smirched with mud and hung in tatters, but they were jewelled from
shoulder to hem with diamonds, whiter and more brilliant than any she
had ever seen. Awed and wondering, Beryl laid her finger softly upon
one of the gems. But it dissolved and vanished at her touch; and she
realised that Time's garments were jewelled with the world's tears.
Presently the youth addressed her, and his voice was the saddest of all
the music that she had ever heard,--
"Maiden, what wouldst thou with me?"
"Good sir, I pray thee to spare the Village of Youth. Let its young days
last for ever."
"For ever!" he sighed. "What spell is there in this 'for ever' that
mortals must always crave after it? I am the spirit of Time, the king of
change. The Winds are my servants. My palace is built on the shores of
Eternity; and yet, for one hour passed in the Village of Youth, or for
knowledge of the peace which reigns in the Village of Eld, I would lay
down my immortality without a pang. In my flight through the world I see
little joy. I ring the bells of birth, of marriage, and of death. Upon
my garments the tears of humanity gather fast. Still, my task is not all
unhappy, in that a day comes when I have healed their wounds with my
touch, though scars remain, which even I, an Immortal, cannot efface.
Alas, sweet maiden! I dare not leave the Village of Youth unvisited,
even at the prayer of the fairest of its daughters."
Nevertheless, after many a sigh and many a tear, Beryl touched the
changeful heart of Time; and because she was so beautiful the youth
loved her, and he bore her away in his chariot, leaving the Village
of Youth unvisited.
Desolate, and misty, and grey, was the country of Time, and rugged the
castle built on the shores of Eternity. Strange, colourless flowers
bloomed in the garden, and the paths were heavy and wet. In the great
hall of the palace there were tables laden with fruit and wine, and
after Beryl had eaten she felt refreshed. The place was lonely. There
was not a sigh nor a token of any living creature within its walls.
Some of the sorrow seemed to pass out of the youth's face as he watched
the maiden. And when she looked up at him and smiled all the tears on
his dress melted away.
"Sweet lady," he presently said, "I did unwisely to bring thee here, for
when thou art gone I shall feel more lonely than ever before. Until I
met thee, I had never exchanged words with an earthly maid. Thy presence
gives me much comfort; I am so weary of travel, so tired of this grim
country. I must, nevertheless, leave thee at sunrise. Remain here until
I return, and I will not pass through the Village of Youth."
Beryl's heart leapt with gratitude. Her mission was accomplished. Then a
sudden fear smote her. Must she remain alone in this weird place, and
walk continually in this garden of colourless flowers?
"Good my lord, how long wilt thou be gone?" she tremblingly inquired.
"A year, though it will seem but as a day to thee, for here time counts
not; this is his resting-place. In his palace there is no change; it is
built on the everlasting shore."
As the youth finished speaking Beryl observed that the hall was full of
weird shades, in jewelled cloaks of tears; but amongst them there was
one whose garments were of shining white, gemmed with violets.
"These," said Time, "are the hours of to-day."
The shades flitted past, bending before their King. Beryl noticed that
the sadness in their faces was akin to that of Time, with one exception.
He of the white garments wore an expression that was smiling and happy,
and the violets on his dress filled the hall with perfume.
"Good my lord, why doth this last shadow look so different from all the
rest?" asked Beryl.