As I walked through the fresh, green world there ensued within me
the following dispute, as it were, between myself and two voices;
and the first voice I will call Pro, and the other Contra.
MYSELF. May the devil take that "Gabbing Dick"!
PRO. He probably will.
MYSELF. Had he not told me of what he saw--of the man who looked
at my Virgil--over her shoulder-PRO. Or had you not listened.
MYSELF. Ah, yes!--but then, I did listen, and that he spoke the
truth is beyond all doubt; the misplaced Virgil proves that.
However, it is certain, yes, very certain, that I can remain no
longer in the Hollow.
CONTRA. Well, there is excellent accommodation at "The Bull."
PRO. And, pray, why leave the Hollow?
MYSELF. Because she is a woman-PRO. And you love her!
MYSELF. To my sorrow.
PRO. Well, but woman was made for man, Peter, and man for
woman--!
MYSELF (sternly). Enough of that--I must go!
PRO. Being full of bitter jealousy.
MYSELF. No!
PRO. Being a mad, jealous fool-MYSELF. As you will.
PRO. --who has condemned her unheard--with no chance of
justification.
MYSELF. To-morrow, at the very latest, I shall seek some other
habitation.
PRO. Has she the look of guilt?
MYSELF. No; but then women are deceitful by nature, and very
skilful in disguising their faults--at least so I have read in my
books-PRO (contemptuously). Books! Books! Books!
MYSELF (shortly). No matter; I have decided.
PRO. Do you remember how willingly she worked for you with those
slender, capable hands of hers--?
MYSELF. Why remind me of this?
Pro. You must needs miss her presence sorely; her footstep, that
was always so quick and light-MYSELF. Truly wonderful in one so nobly formed!
PRO. --and the way she had of singing softly to herself.
MYSELF. A beautiful voice-PRO. With a caress in it! And then, her habit of looking at you
over her shoulder.
MYSELF. Ah, yes!--her lashes a little drooping, her brows a
little wrinkled, her lips a little parted.
CONTRA. A comfortable inn is "The Bull."
MYSELF (hastily). Yes, yes--certainly.
PRO. Ah!--her lips--the scarlet witchery of her lips! Do you
remember how sweetly the lower one curved upward to its fellow?
A mutinous mouth, with its sudden, bewildering changes! You
never quite knew which to watch oftenest--her eyes or her lips-CONTRA (hoarsely). Excellent cooking at "The Bull"!
PRO. And how she would berate you and scoff at your Master
Epictetus, and dry-as-dust philosophers!
MYSELF. I have sometimes wondered at her pronounced antipathy to
Epictetus.
PRO. And she called you a "creature."