XXII

a. "'OforDariusthescatheless,theprotector!Nowomanevermournedfordeedofhis—'" "Whataniceman,"sighedPriscilla."'OforDarius!'" "Ma'am,ifyouinterrupthowcanIread?Anditisamostbeautifulpassage." "ButwedowantaDariusbadly,"moanedPriscilla. "'Theshipswentforth,thegrey-facedships,liketoeachotherasbirdistobird,theshipsandalltheycarriedperished,theshipsperishedbythehandoftheGreeks.Theking,'tissaid,escapes,buthardly,bytheplainsofThraceandthetoilsomeways,andbehindhimheleaveshisfirst-fruits—sailorsunburiedontheshoresofSalamis.Thengrieve,stingyourselvestogrief,makeheavenecho,howllikedogsforthehorror,fortheyarebatteredtogetherbytheterriblewaters,theyareshreddedtopiecesbythevoicelesschildrenofthePure.Thehousehasnomaster—'" "Fritzi,Iwishyou'dleaveoff,"imploredPriscilla."It'squiteasgloomyasanythingIwasthinking." "Butma'amthedifferenceisthatitisalsobeautiful,whereasthegloomatpresentenvelopingusismeresqualor.'ThevoicelesschildrenofthePure—'howisthat,ma'am,forbeauty?" "Idon'tevenknowwhatitmeans,"sighedPriscilla. "Ma'am,itisanextremelybeautifulmannerofalludingtofish." "Idon'tcare,"saidPriscilla. "Ma'am,isitpossiblethattheblightofpassingandoutwardcircumstancehaspenetratedtoandsettleduponwhatshouldalwaysbeofasublimeinaccessibility,yoursoul?" "Idon'tcareaboutthefish,"repeatedPriscillalistlessly.Thenwithasuddenmovementshepushedbackherchairandjumpedup."Oh,"shecried,beatingherhandstogether,"don'ttalktomeoffishwhenIcan'tseeaninch—ohnotasingleinchintothefuture!" Fritzinglookedather,hisfingeronthepage.Halfofhimwasstillatthebottomofclassicseaswiththebatteredandshreddedsailors.Howmuchratherwouldhehavestayedthere,havegoneonreading?schylusalittle,havetakenherwithhimforabriefspaceofserenityintothatmoistrefugefromtheharasse