"Despair not in calamities of a gladdening that shall wipe away thy sorrows;
For how many a simoom blows, then turns to a gentle breeze, and is changed!
How many a hateful cloud arises, then passes away, and pours not forth!
And the smoke of the wood, fear is conceived of it, yet no blaze appears from it;
And oft sorrow rises, and straightway sets again.
So be patient when fear assails, for Time is the Father of Wonders;
And hope from the peace of God blessings not to be reckoned!"
How should such a chant as this enter a young man's heart who felt himself despicable in the sight of his mistress?
"Should you like a little more?" asked Amaryllis, in a very gentle tone, now he had obeyed her.
"I would rather not," said Amadis, still hanging his head.
His days were mixed of honey and wormwood; sweet because of Amaryllis, absinthe because of his weakness.
A voice came from the summer-house; Flamma was shouting an old song, with heavy emphasis here and there, with big capital letters:—
The jolly old Sun, where goes he at night?
And what does he Do, when he's out of Sight?
All Insinuation Scorning;
I don't mean to Say that he Tipples apace,
I only Know he's a very Red Face
When he gets up in the Morning!
"Haw! Haw! Haw!" laughed Bill Nye, with his mouth full. "Th' zun do look main red in the marning, surely."
They heard the front door open and shut; Iden had come in for his lunch, and, by the sound of the footsteps, had brought one of his gossips with him.
At this Mrs. Iden began to ruffle up her feathers for battle.