Page 51 - Yellow Feather Book 2

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Never had she taken such a refreshing bath nor tasted such dainty dishes. While eating, she heard soft music all around her, like a harp accompanying a numerous choir. She heard it but she could not see it. The whole day she was alone, only accompanied by the voices. But somehow she knew her husband would come at night. And so he did. When she felt he was close to her and heard his voice whispering sweetly in her ear, her fears disappeared. Without even seeing him, she was certain that he was not a monster but the loving husband she had always been wishing for.
The following days passed full of joy and grace. Psyche could not remember any happier time in her life. However, as the days turned into weeks, she was becoming increasingly sad that she could not see her husband. Moreover, she was left alone all day and boredom filled her heart. Suddenly, she started missing her family. They must have been mourning for her and here she was, alive and happy. This was not fair and she didn’t want her family to suffer. That night, she asked her mysterious husband to grant her a favor. She wanted her two sisters to come up to the palace and make sure that she was fine. That would be a comfort for her old parents. At first, her husband refused but when Psyche turned away so sorrowful, he had to accept. “I will allow your sisters to come up here, but I am warning you, do not let them influence you. If they do, you will destroy our relationship and suffer greatly”.
The following day, her two sisters, carried along by Zephyr, came up to see Psyche. They were all happy to see each other and cried in happiness. However, when they entered the palace, the two older sisters were amazed by all those magnificent treasures. During dinner, they heard wonderful music and drank the most delicious of wines. Envy was flourishing in their heart and an irresistible curiosity to know the owner of such magnificence, the husband of Psyche. They kept asking the poor girl questions on her husband, his look and his occupation. Psyche just said that he was a young hunter. But, they didn’t believe her, of course. Could a simple hunter be so rich? “He must be a prince or even a god”, they thought. The two sisters knew that compared to Psyche, their own wealth and happiness were nothing at all and in total jealousy, they made a plan to hurt their sister. When, they were saying goodbye, the two evil women told Psyche that her husband must be the awful snake that the Oracle of Delphi had prophesied. “That is why he doesn’t allow you to see him. Because he knows that if you see him, you will disgust in his sight and leave him forever. Oh, poor Psyche, how can you sleep with such a horrible creature?”
From that day on, Psyche could think of nothing else but these words. Her sisters
The Yellow Feather Literature Third Course