The door was partly ajar, and at that instant St. Elmo entered.
He stopped, looked at the kneeling figure locked so closely in his mother's arms, and over his stern face broke a light that transformed it into such beauty as Lucifer's might have worn before his sin and banishment, when God-"'Lucifer'--kindly said as 'Gabriel,' 'Lucifer'--soft as 'Michael'; while serene He, standing in the glory of the lamps, Answered, 'My Father,' innocent of shame And of the sense of thunder!"
Yearningly he extended his arms toward the two, who, absorbed in their low talk, were unconscious of his presence; then the hands fell heavily to his side, the brief smile was swallowed up by scowling shadows, and he turned silently away and went to his own gloomy rooms.