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no one was warlike； no hustle； for no one hurried； no wide…packed asses
nodding down the lanes； for there was nothing to fill their packs with； and
though a cart sometimes came by with a load of lolling men and maids； or
a small horse； for horses they had； paced along； itself nearly as lazy as the
master he bore； with trappings sewed over bits of coloured shell and coral；
yet somehow it was all extraordinarily unreal。 It was a city full of the
ghosts of the life which once pulsed through its ways。 The streets were
peopled； the chatter of voices everywhere； the singing boys and laughing
girls wandering； arms linked together； down the ways filled every echo
with their merriment； yet somehow it was all so shallow that again and
again I rubbed my eyes； wonder… ing if I were indeed awake； or whether it
were not a pro… longed sleep of which the tomorrow were still to come。
〃What strikes me as strangest of all； good comrade；〃 I observed
pleasantly to the tripping presence at my elbow； 〃is that these countrymen
of yours who shirk to climb a flight of steps； and have palms as soft as
rose petals； these wide ways paved with stones as hard as a usurer's heart。〃
An laughed。 〃The stones were still in their native quar… ries had it
been left to us to seek them； we are like the conies in the ruins； sir； the
inheritors of what other hands have done。〃
〃Ay； and undone； I think； as well； for coming along I have noted axe
chippings upon the walls； smudges of ancient fire and smoke upon the
cornices。〃
An winced a little and stared uneasily at the walls； mut… tering below
her breath something about trying to hide with flower garlands the marks
they could not banish； but it was plain the conversation was not pleasing to
her。 So unpleasant was talk or sight of woodmen （Thither…folk； as she
called them； in contradiction to the Hither people about us here）； that the
girl was clearly relieved when we were free of the town and out into the
open play… ground of the people。 The whole place down there was a gay；
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shifting crowd。 The booths of yesterday； the ar… cades； the archways；
were still standing； and during the night unknown hands had redecked
them with flowers； while another day's sunshine had opened the coppice
buds so that the whole place was brilliant past expression。 And here the
Hither folk were varying their idleness by a general holiday。 They were
standing about in groups； or lying ranked like new…plucked flowers on the
banks； piping to each other through reeds as soft and melodious as running
water。 They were playing inconsequent games and breaking off in the
middle of them like children looking for new pleasures。 They were
idling about the drinking booths； delicately stupid with quaint； thin wines；
dealt out to all who asked； the maids were ready to chevy or be chevied
through the blossoming thickets by anyone who chanced upon them； the
men slipped their arms round slen… der waists and wandered down the
paths； scarce seeming to care even whose waist it was they circled or into
whose ear they whispered the remainder of the love…tale they had begun to
some one else。 And everywhere it was 〃Hi；〃 and 〃Ha；〃 and 〃So；〃 and
〃See；〃 as these quaint people called to one another； knowing each other as
familiarly as ants of a nest； and by the same magic it seemed to me。
〃An；〃 I said presently； when we had wandered an hour or so through
the drifting throng； 〃have these good country… men of yours no other
names but monosyllabic； nothing to designate them but these chirruping
syllables？〃
〃Is it not enough？〃 answered my companion。 〃Once in… deed I think
we had longer names； but；〃 she added； smiling； 〃how much trouble it
saves to limit each one to a single sound。 It is uncivil to one's neighbours
to burden their tongues with double duty when half would do。〃
〃But have you no patronymicsnothing to show the child comes of the
same source as his father came？〃
〃We have no fathers。〃
〃What！ no fathers？〃 I said； starting and staring at her。
〃No； nor mothers either； or at least none that we remem… ber； for again；
why should we？ Mayhap in that strange dis… trict you come from you
keep count of these things； but what have we to do with either when their
initial duty is done。 Look at that painted butterfly swinging on the honey…
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laden catkin there。 What knows she of the mother who shed her life into
a flowercup and forgot which flower it was the minute afterwards。 We；
too； are insects； stranger。〃
〃And do you mean to say of this great concourse here； that every atom
is solitary； individual； and can claim no kin… dred with another save the
loose bonds of a general fraterni… tya specious idea； horrible；
impracticable！〃
Whereat An laughed。 〃Ask the grasshoppers if it is im… practicable；
ask the little buzzing things of grass and leaves who drift hither and thither
upon each breath of wind； finding kinsmen never but comrades
everywhereask them if it is horrible。〃
This made me melancholy； and somehow set me thinking of the
friends immeasurably distant I had left but yesterday。
What were they doing？ Did they miss me？ I was to have called for
my pay this afternoon； and tomorrow was to have run down South to see
that freckled lady of mine。 What would she think of my absence？ What
would she think if she knew where I was？ Gods； it was too mad； too
absurd！ I thrust my hands into my pockets in fierce des… peration； and
there they clutched an old dance programme and an out…of…date check for
a New York ferry…boat。 I scowled about on that sunny； helpless people；
and laying my hand bitterly upon my heart felt in the breast…pocket
beneath a packet of unpaid Boston tailors' bills and a note from my
landlady asking if I would let her aunt do my washing while I was on
shore。 Oh！ what would they all think of me？ Would they brand me as a
deserter； a poltroon； and a thief； letting my name presently sink down in
shame and mystery in the shadowy realm of the forgotten？ Dread… ful
thoughts！ I would think no more。
Maybe An had marked my melancholy； for presently she led me to a
stall where in fantastic vases wines of sorts I have described before were
put out for all who came to try them。 There was medicine here for every
kind of dulnessnot the gross cure which earthly wine effects； but so
nicely proportioned to each specific need that one could regulate one's
debauch to a hairbreadth； rising through all the gamut of satisfaction； from
the staid contentment coming of that flask there to the wild extravagances
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of the further… most vase。 So my stripling told me； running her finger
down the line of beakers carved with strange figures and cased in silver；
each in its cluster of little attendant drinking… cups； like…coloured； and
waiting round on the white napkins as the shore boats wait to unload a
cargo round the sides of a merchant vessel。
〃And what；〃 I said； after curiously examining each liquor in turn；
〃what is that which stands alone there in the humble earthen jar； as though
unworthy of the company of the others。〃
〃Oh； that；〃 said my friend； 〃is the most essential of them allthat is the
wine of recovery； without which all the others were deadly poisons。〃
〃The which； lady； looks as if it had a moral attaching to it。〃
〃It may have； indeed I think it has； but I have forgotten。 Prince Hath
would know！ Meanwhile let me give you to drink； great stranger； let me
get you something。〃
〃Well； then；〃 I laughed； 〃reach m