Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/137

 Assent and Refusal the long Bough of Affirmation rustled, all its leaves at once, and the Oak of Prosperity rustled and the Oak of Happiness. Now that dream is a sign. And dear old Daddy will acknowledge it as a sign."

"You'll tell him!" Dexibios exclaimed. "Then why not declare I am your choice without telling him."

"I'll tell him of the dream," Thessa rebuked him. "But I shan't mention you, stupid. I'll tell Daddy I dreamed that I stood at Dodona hand in hand with a man and asked Zeus for countenance and that all the favorable boughs and branches and trees rustled in concert. He'll accede to the indication of the dream and we'll all go to Dodona. I've a splendid plot that will ensure you're being one of the retinue. And I shan't tell you what it is either. And at Dodona we'll question the oaks and when they affirm my choice Daddy can't refuse me."

"Suppose they confirm some other suitor's pretensions?" Dexibios queried.

"You dreadful irreligious boy," Thessa exclaimed. "Didn't I tell you that you held my hand in the dream?"

"Suppose the dream was false or meaningless?" Dexibios interjected.

Thessa clapped her soft little hand over his mouth.