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           InthesunnypatchesonemighteasilyhavecookedonastoneabatchofthosebunswithCorinthfruitinthemthatPeriplipomenessellsinhisboothnearthebridge.ButshehadnoughtforherteethbutthearmwithwhichIheldherandinthatshenibbledmischievouslywhenIpressedtooclose.Aweekagoshelayill,fourdaysonthecouch,buttodayshewasfree,blithe,mockedatperil.Sheismoretakingthen.Herposiestoo!Madrompthatsheis,shehadpulledherfillaswereclinedtogether.Andinyourear,myfriend,youwillnotthinkwhometusasweleftthefield.Conmeehimself!Hewaswalkingbythehedge,reading,Ithinkabrevierbookwith,Idoubtnot,awittyletterinitfromGlyceraorChloetokeepthepage.Thesweetcreatureturnedallcoloursinherconfusion,feigningtoreproveaslightdisorderinherdress:aslipofunderwoodclungtherefortheverytreesadoreher.WhenConmeehadpassedsheglancedatherlovelyechointhatlittlemirrorshecarries.Buthehadbeenkind.Ingoingbyhehadblessedus.Thegodstooareeverkind,Lenehansaid.IfIhadpoorluckwithBass’smareperhapsthisdraughtofhismayservememorepropensely.Hewaslayinghishanduponawinejar:Malachisawitandwithheldhisact,pointingtothestrangerandtothescarletlabel.Warily,Malachiwhispered,preserveadruidsilence.Hissoulisfaraway.Itisaspainfulperhapstobeawakenedfromavisionastobeborn.Anyobject,intenselyregarded,maybeagateofaccesstotheincorruptibleeonofthegods.