Robert tried to prepare himself for it all. He attempted to prepare himself to handle Johnny Dull’s jests, responding to them on an equal level so that he did not look weak or stupid; for talking with Anastasia was intimidating enough. She was not off putting, but she did not have the same warmness of her sister. Both sisters were confident, but Emily was like the rising sun when the mockingbirds sing, sweet and pretty; Anastasia, she was a mix of day and night. She had the pride of Apollo and the heat of his chariot, warm, but at the same time, overwhelming the eye.
Emily, Robert thought, and found himself singing:
‘Where e’er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade,
Trees where you sit shall crowd into a shade,
Trees where you sit shall crowd into a shade
Where e’er you walk cool gales shall fan the glade
Trees where you sit shall crowd into a shade
Trees where you sit shall crowd into to a shade.
Where e’er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise
And all things flourish
An all things flourish
where e’er you turn your eyes
where e’er you turn your eyes
where e’er you turn your eyes.’”
“What was that?” Emily said.
“Oh, sorry,” Robert blushed.
“No, it was good. Really good. What song was it?”
“It’s from Handel’s
Semele, though the words are actually by the English poet, Alexander Pope form his poem
Summer.
“What made you start just singing all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know. I was just thinking.”
“About what?” Emily asked.
Blushing, Robert answered, “Love.”
Emily grew playful and said, “Oooooo, you’re in love!” Then seriously she asked, “With that prostitute.”
“I think so,” Robert said. “But it was not her I was thinking of.”
“Who was it?” Emily asked.
“You,” Robert said simply. He did not blush.
“You’re in love with me?”
“No, but your prettiness made me think of that song. I was thinking of someone else, but you came to mind, too, but you are sort of a contrast with her. The lines are:
‘Where e’er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade
Trees where you sit, shall crowd into a shade;
Where e’er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise,
And all things flourish wher’er you turn your eyes.’”
“And why do I remind you of that?” Emily asked in her bright voice, now even brighter with intrigue. They had stopped walking now.
“Because you have this bright voice, fair skin, and light hair which seems to fit the girl I like. You’re sort of the opposite of her. She has dark hair and is not chirpy like you. I like her though, but I don’t think I love her. I might be in love with Maggie, the call girl though. I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.”
“Well, I want to know who this special girl is.”
“Well,” Robert said, hesitating. “Your sister.” Quickly he added, “But I am not in love with her. I was just thinking how you are like the sweet dawn, like the birds singing in the morning, soft and sweet. And she is like Apollo, proud and humbling, but also warm and good.”
“Wow,” Emily said brightly, obviously moved. “That’s amazing. ‘Like the sweet dawn, like the birds singing in the morning, soft and sweet.’ I’d almost say you were in love with me. I mean, I’m moved.” She stopped a moment. “What was that you said about Ana?”
“That she is like Apollo, who carries the sun through the sky, proud, humbling, because you cannot look at the sun without having to look away. But it’s not an evil pride, because the sun is warm and a source of light.”
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Originally Posted by Xander416
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