So Theria perforce went back to her room, there to toss, to plan, to wonder, until nearly dawn when she fell, as with a sudden stumble, into slumber. * * * * * When she awoke again the full sun was shining brightly into the court. Inessa, the new wonderful colony, met her awaking mind. She had been walking in its streets of dream with Eëtíon. But she knew that Nikander always rose with the dawn. Already he might be gone from the house to tell the priests to choose another leader. In mad haste she threw on her chiton and hurried down into the aula. Paian be praised! Nikander was still there, but all dressed and sandalled going toward the door. “Father, Father!” she cried breathlessly. “Wait a moment. Oh, I must see you alone.” “What has happened?” he asked. “Inessa! Oh, Father, I am going to Inessa. I must go.” “What,” he smiled at her vehemence. “Changeable woman! Do you expect me to veer about with all your moods?” “I didn’t listen. I was blind. I——” “But perhaps I, too, have changed mood. I am not nearly so eager as I was last night, my daughter.” He was not teasing. He meant it! There were longing and affection in his face before which she was utterly silent. Then he looked into her eyes. “Does the colony seem more possible this morning?” he asked seriously. “Possible! Oh, the wonderful task! God-given. Are you sure, sure the priests meant it for me?” “Quite sure. It was a long, serious discussion.” “There is no one else,” she said humbly. “That is why they chose me. And that is why I must go. Inessa seems as if it were my own child, lonely, ruined, waiting for me.” “Hmm—so that is your meaning this morning.” She began to pace up and down. “Father, it is a thousand-fold task, the founding of a city.” “I should rather think so,” he smiled. “Would I have the choice of men who are to go? It should be but a few men at first, and the right men.” “Yes, the choice would be yours.” “And the present site of the city. May I choose another? If the old site be unhealthful, or melancholy, or not beautiful, or haunted by some fate?” “Yes, with the consent of the colonists.” “And the laws of the city. Would I select the code and even annul laws that proved unsuited in the new land? Oh, Father, you will have to teach me. I will have to work every moment to grow wiser and better.” “I will teach you,” he responded, wondering at her. “Think, if we could make a new city where better justice would be meted out than ever before, where even the poor man could keep up heart and courage. And where orphans would be nurtured. Oh, nobody should care for the little fatherless children but me. I would let no one else do that.”