The

Laughter

of

Antinous

by Miss Candace Orcutt

64

Sing to me of that odorous green eve when

couching by the marge

You heard from Adrian's gilded barge

the laughter of Antinous."

from THE SPHINX by Oscar Wilde

Domenica's entrance into the room was mimicked in miniature on the surfaces of mirrors and glass cases. The long French windows, closed against the night, reflected the parlor and the white staircase that curled between the upstairs and the downstairs. And Domenica, observing the quiet ritual of descending into the parlor, passed down the staircase.

She had large, pale eyes, and a heavy swath of ivory-blonde hair hung down her back like a fantastic scrimshaw work. Her dress was of light green silk, and around her throat curved a twin row of pearls. She crossed leisurely to where Tony stood hesitating before an open glass case, anxiously scrutinizing its contents of fans.

"Things are perfect as they are," remarked Domenica. Her brother turned with pleasure at her voice. He was a gentler counterpart of his sister; his hair was as blond as hers, and it curled with the same intricate carelessness, but his eyes were a darker, more limpid blue, and there was more softness in his face and body, as though he were accustomed to an existence of dreamy indulgence.

She closed the case and nodded with approval at Tony's delicate little collection of fans, spread out in dustless security under the glass.

"Are you SURE," he was still doubtful," that the blue one shouldn't be in the middle?"

She smiled, and touched his upper arm, very lightly.

"The blue one is just right where it is. They are all ideally placed. In fact, I have never seen a lovelier arrangement contented?"

Tony's uneasiness changed to an attitude of reserved trust.

"I'm just afraid he won't like the arrangement. He's so observant of

one

4