and determination. It was she who ruled the house in the absence of Simon
Iff.
A brief colloquy between this woman and Cyril Grey followed their first
greetings, whose austere formality inexplicably conveyed the most cordial
kindness. He explained that he wished her to continue in full control of the
house, only modifying its rules so far as might be necessary for the success of
a certain experiment in magick which he had come to carry out. Sister Clara
acquiesced with the [137] slightest of nods; then she raised her voice, and
summoned the others to the evening adoration of the Sun.
Cyril performed this as leader; the duty done, he was free to meet his new
brothers and sisters.
Sister Clara was assisted by two young women, both of the slender
willowy type — rather babyish even, one might say, with their light brown
fluffiness and their full, red soft lips. They remained standing apart from the
men, who numbered five. First in rank came the burly Brother Onofrio, a
man of some thirty-five years, strong as a bull, with every muscle like iron
from constant physical toil. Two men of thirty stood beside him, and behind
them two lads of about sixteen.
They were all devoted — so far as the outer world was aware — to the
healing of humanity in respect of its physical ills. The men were doctors, or
students, the women nurses; though in fact Sister Clara was herself the most
brilliant of them all, a surgeon who could have held her own against any man
in Europe.
But it was contrary to the rule of the house for any sick person to lodge
there; the private hospital which was attached to it was situated some three
hundred yards further back from the hillside.
At a glance Lisa perceived that she had come into a circle where discipline
was the first consideration.
Every one moved as if a Prussian sergeant had been in charge of him from
infancy. Every one looked as if his responsibility were ever present to his
mind. These manners sat naturally enough upon Clara and Onofrio; on the
others the idea was hardly yet assimilated. But there was no evidence of any
outward constraint; even the youngest of the boys was proud to take himself
so seriously as he did.
A touch of frost was in the air; Cyril led Lisa within. A special set of
rooms had been prepared [138] for their reception; but Lisa was displeased to
find that they had been arranged entirely with reference to feminine tastes and