ght only tell them that she was safe, then
she would ask for nothing more. If not--why, it was a pity the monster
had not devoured her.

There was a silence after Psyche had poured forth her entreaties, and
then the bridegroom spoke, but his voice seemed somehow changed from
what it had been before.

'You shall do as you wish,' he said, 'though I fear that ill will come
of it. Send for your sisters if you please, and give them anything that
the palace contains. But once again let me beseech you to answer nothing
to their questions, or we shall be parted for ever.'

'Never, never, shall that be,' cried Psyche, embracing her husband with
delight. And, whoever and whatever you may be, I would not give you up,
even for the god Cupid. I will tell them nothing, but bid, I pray you,
Zephyr, your servant, to carry them hither to-morrow, as he carried
me.'

Next morning Zephyr found the two sisters seated on the rock, tearing
their hair and beating their breasts with sorrow. 'Psyche! Psyche,' they
cried, and the mountains echoed 'Psyche! Psyche,' but no other sound
answered them. Suddenly they felt themselves gently lifted from the
earth, and wafted through the air to the door of the palace, where stood
Psyche herself.

'Psyche! Psyche!' they cried again, but this time with joy and wonder,
and for a while they forgot everything else in the world. Then Psyche
bade them tell her of her father and mother, and how the days had passed
since she had left them, and she pictured to herself their gladness when
they heard how different had been her fate from that which the oracle
had foretold.

After her sisters had made known to her everything they had to tell,
Psyche invited them to see the palace, and, calling to the voices,
ordered them to prepare baths with sweet-smelling spices, and to set
forth a banquet for her guests. At these tokens of riches and splendour,
envy began to arise in their hearts, and curiosity also. They looked at
each other, and the glances of their eyes promised no good to Psyche.

'But where is your husband?' asked the eldest. 'Are we not to see him
also?'

'Yes,' said the other, 'you have not even told us what he is like, and
our mother will assuredly wish to know that.'

Their questions recalled to Psyche's mind the danger against which she
had been warned, and she answered hastily:

'Oh, he is young and very handsome--the handsomest man in all the world,
I think. But he spends much of his time in