The Shepherd’s Flute, 9.
it is time for you to grasp fully, Dionysia, what
perhaps you could not graap before: that you are free.
follow this firstinnptation which comes to you —
and all the others which may succeed it, just like
this. Go forth, Dionysia, accomplish your destiny
to be wholly yourself."
Dionysia looked at her husband with hurt as¬
tonishment.
"Go forth," repeated Erasmus, more decidedly
than before. "This is my last injunction to you.
Perhaps the music of this flute represents the only
temptation to which you are hastined to succumb, per¬
hips it is but the first of few, or many. Perhaps
another impulse will call you home in an hour, perhaps
you will appear after years, perhaps never again.
But remember one thing always: whenever you return,
and with whatever memories you may be laden — bed,
rainent, and domicile await you; no question and no
reproach will mortify you, and I myself shall receive
you exactly as I did on the evening when you first
possed this threshold as my young beide. And nov.
Dionysia, fairewell!" With these words, and a last
look, he turned away, walked to the door, closed it