“Say me some more,” she breathed. “Like that. Anything with woods or flowers in it.”

He began quoting, mischievously filling in words to make up the rhythm where he forgot the original:

“Iris all hues, roses and jessamine....

In shadier bower.... (I forget! But here it was)

With flowers, garlands and sweet-smelling herbs

Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed....

Yes Eve! In naked beauty more adorned,

More lovely than Pandora. (So Milton says!)

“I can’t remember just how it goes, but there are some lovely things in that old Puritan’s blood-and-thunder epic....

“These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept,