"Oh no, you may be depended on for that."
"But I have sat quiet, you know, for years. That's done with, now."
He shifted his position uneasily.
"I don't want any longer to be always fortunate, always happy. I want to know about life. I want to understand."
Still he said nothing.
"It's a kind of death not to understand," she said.
"And has some of Death's peace to recommend it. But let's come to Hecuba. What do you want to understand?"
"It—is so—hard for me to say."
"Harder than not understanding?"
"No. I—want to know—if you have any objection to releasing me from my promise?"