Chapter 14

           (Certainly,Nancyhadgonewiththem,sinceMintaDoylehadaskeditwithherdumblook,holdingoutherhand,asNancymadeoff,afterlunch,toherattic,toescapethehorroroffamilylife.Shesupposedshemustgothen.Shedidnotwanttogo.Shedidnotwanttobedrawnintoitall.ForastheywalkedalongtheroadtothecliffMintakeptontakingherhand.Thenshewouldletitgo.Thenshewouldtakeitagain.Whatwasitshewanted?Nancyaskedherself.Therewassomething,ofcourse,thatpeoplewanted;forwhenMintatookherhandandheldit,Nancy,reluctantly,sawthewholeworldspreadoutbeneathher,asifitwereConstantinopleseenthroughamist,andthen,howeverheavy-eyedonemightbe,onemustneedsask,"IsthatSantaSofia?""IsthattheGoldenHorn?"SoNancyasked,whenMintatookherhand."Whatisitthatshewants?Isitthat?"Andwhatwasthat?Hereandthereemergedfromthemist(asNancylookeddownuponlifespreadbeneathher)apinnacle,adome;prominentthings,withoutnames.ButwhenMintadroppedherhand,asshedidwhentheyrandownthehillside,allthat,thedome,thepinnacle,whateveritwasthathadprotrudedthroughthemist,sankdownintoitanddisappeared.Minta,Andrewobserved,wasratheragoodwalker.Sheworemoresensibleclothesthatmostwomen.Sheworeveryshortskirtsandblackknickerbockers.Shewouldjumpstraightintoastreamandflounderacross.Helikedherrashness,buthesawthatitwouldnotdo—shewouldkillherselfinsomeidioticwayoneofthesedays.