ly, and, withal, with
an individuality so elf-like in its quaintness, that Joseph's quivering
nerves were stilled and relaxed as by the caresses of a woman's hands.
Then, when count of time had ceased, when the room was filled with
velvet shadows, and the rich, dim glow of the crimson-shaded lamp
touched only the seated figure and the ivory keys his fingers pressed,
Ivan's low voice added itself to the melody. He began to speak,
accompanying his words with music like the tracery of fine gold that
sets forth and enriches the deep beauty of perfect jewels. What he said
came from him spontaneously, without any previous arrangement. It was as
if the long-locked door to the inner sanctum of his soul had swung
open, betraying all the wealth of a treasure-room the very existence of
which was unsuspected by any other man: for the treasure it contained
was the gathered store of his many years of labor, moulded now into the
_Credo_ of his working life: the creed by which he lived; which was
slowly writing itself upon his face.

"Art," he whispered, softly, arabesquing the beloved, misused word with
a ripple of vagrant melody, "is a high goddess, one supreme,
all-sufficing, all-embracing, absolutely jealous. Her priests may serve
none and nothing but her; and she is worthy of such worship.--Beauty of
Aphrodite of old--chastity of Artemis of the crescent moon--wisdom of
high Athene, of the silver spear--integrity of Hera the quiet-browed,
giver of laws--these she combines in her perfect whole; these are the
virtues we are bound to emulate who serve her. Let them that are weak,
that understand not, complain of constraint under these rules. Such are
unworthy of the trust. Those things that we need--imagination,
independence, courage of conviction--every quality bespeaking her one
great requirement in the characters of her chosen ones--originality--are
to be fostered in a hundred ways not unpleasing to her. But this first
quality, which may not be bought either by labor or by gold, has been
made the mark whereby she knows and claims her own. Once self-ordained,
a man finds himself subject gloriously to her: divinely driven to prayer
and fasting, to unceasing labor, to the long and beautiful vigils of the
night that bring him her highest rewards: inspiration and love of her
and of her service. For us she is lady of night and of day, of sun and
sky and the green earth. Through her eyes we see and marvel at them all.
Of her many favors t