Had I but man's courage! Yet this is a solitary place, and
the gods are revengeful."
I cannot say how artlessly ran that voice in this still garden, by
some strange power persuading me on, turning all doubt aside, calming
all suspicion.
"There is honeycomb here, and the fruit is plenteous. Yes," she said,
"and all travellers are violent men--catch and kill meat--that I know,
however doleful. 'Tis but a little sigh from day to day in these cool
gardens; and rest is welcome when the heart pines not. Listen, now; I
will go down and you shall show me--did one have the wit to learn, and
courage to remember--show me how sails your wonderful little ship;
tell me, too, where on the sea's horizon to one in exile earth lies,
with all its pleasant things--yet thinks so bitterly of a woman!"
"Tell me," I said; "tell me but one thing of a thousand. Whom would
_you_ seek, did a traveller direct you, and a boat were at your need?"
She looked at me, pondering, weaving her webs about me, lulling doubt,
and banishing fear.
"One could not miss--a hero!" she said, flaming.
"That, then, shall be our bargain," I replied with wrath at my own
folly.
Pages:
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180