And after that there was no more quietness.
CHAPTER V
That afternoon we went to the city and Moonbeam with us.
There is no doubt we made a very happy party, and the journey, though long as regards distance, was very quickly accomplished in a light and comfortable vehicle borne by six horses swift as the wind, and beautiful as perfect strength and freedom make them.
Mountains and valleys, level roads and shining rivers, we crossed and passed. In itself this drive was exhilarating, and the beauty of the scenes through which we journeyed was unrivalled.
When we first came in sight of the city it was from the brow of a steep hill our horses had climbed with perfect ease and freshness. The sun was setting as we came there, and what is sunset but the beauty of variety to those whose sun can never set?
How magnificent it was only the eye of pure thought can ever truly see, yet with almost marvellous exactness it resembled hell.
When we came to the city twilight had fallen, and cheerful lights shone from each curtained window.
A few of their more intimate friends were there to greet us at the door, and among the number Philemon, Moonbeam’s brother.
Now, had Philemon lived on this earth he would have been called a little shrivel of a fellow, for he was no higher than five feet, and extremely thin. But there was about him the nameless strength and beauty which marked them all.