"You wouldn't play no jape on me, would you?"
"Save us!" Ben knew his brother was genuinely shocked. "Not about the sampler, Kate!"
"I know, dear."
"Only ask Mr. Hibbs whether my translation be right, if you doubt me."
"Nay nay, Reuben, love, I don't at all.... Love conquereth—"
Ben said: "Love conquereth all things."
"Ah me!" She came near, a soft hand on Ben's shoulder, her small sweet mouth like pink petals fallen in bread dough. "Ben, boy, you be a little changed. Something happen, Master Benjamin?—maybe Monday?"
"Monday? Why, Uncle John's Artemis came home from her maiden voyage that day, and a prettier vessel you never—"
"Oh, bother old Artemis! And ha' done with talk of the sea too—ask Mr. John, what's it ever done but make widows, and empty graves in the God's acre?"
Reuben said to his empty plate: "The tale goes, it may have been filled by the tears of Chronos who was before all the gods."