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ngfromtheirsockets,thatonlybyaviolenteffortofself-controlcouldthevicarstophimselffrompointingathimandshoutingoutthenandthere"Thouarttheman!" Meanwhiletherealmurdererhadhiredawaggonetteandwastakinghiswifeforapleasantcountrydrive. ItwastopacifyFritzingthatPriscillacamedowntobreakfast.Lefttoherselfshewouldbypreferenceneverhavebreakfastedagain.Sheevendrankmoremilktopleasehimbutthoughitmightpleasehim,noamountofmilkcouldwashouttheutterblacknessofherspirit.He,seeingherdroopbehindthejug,seeinghergazingdrearilyatnothinginparticular,jumpedupandtookabookfromtheshelvesandwithoutmoreadobegantoreadaloud."Itisbetter,ma'am,"heexplainedbriefly,glancingatheroverhisspectacles,"thanthatyoushouldgiveyourselfovertogloom." Priscillaturnedvagueeyesontohim."HowcanIhelpgloom?"sheasked. "Yes,yes,thatmaybe.Butnobodyshouldbegloomyatbreakfast.Theentiredayisveryapt,inconsequence,tobecurdled." "Itwillbecurdledanyhow,"saidPriscilla,herheadsinkingontoherchest. "Ma'am,listentothis." Andwithapieceofbreadandbutterinonehand,fromwhichhetookoccasionalhurriedbites,andtheotherraisedinappropriatevaryinggesticulation,FritzingreadportionsofthePersaeof?schylustoher,firstinGreekforthejoyofhisownearandthentranslatingitintoEnglishfortheedificationofhers.He,atleast,wasoffafterthefirstline,sailinggoldenseasremoteandglorious,placeswherewordswerelovelyanddeedsheroic,placesmostbeautifulandbrave,mostadmirably,mostrestfullyunlikeCreeperCottage.Herolledoutthesentences,turningthemonhistongue,savouringthem,reluctanttoletthemgo.Shesatlookingathim,wonderinghowhecouldpossiblyevenforaninstantforgettheactualandthepresent. "'Xerxeswentforth,Xerxesperished,Xerxesmismanagedallthingsinthedepthsofthesea—'"declaimedFritzing. "Hemusthavebeenlikeus,"murmuredPriscill