A Saga Of The Seas

           Ithappenedonedaythatsomeladiescametocall,whowerenotatallthesortIwasusedto.Theysufferedfromagrievance,sofarasIcouldgather,andtheburdenoftheirplaintwasMan—MeningeneralandManinparticular.(Thoughthewordswerebutspoken,IcouldclearlydiscernthecapitalMintheiracidutterance.)

           OfcourseIwasnotpresentofficially,sotospeak.Downbelow,inmysub-worldofchair-legsandhearthrugsandtheundersidesofsofas,Iwasworkingoutmyownfloor-problems,whiletheybabbledonfarabovemyhead,consideringmeasbutachair-leg,orevensomethinglowerinthescale.YetIwaslisteninghardallthetime,withthatrespectfulconsiderationonegivestoallgrown-uppeople’sremarks,solongasoneknowsnobetter.

           Itseemedaseriousindictmentenough,astheyrolleditout.Intact,considerateness,andrightappreciation,aswellasintasteandaestheticsensibilities—wefailedateverypoint,webreechedandbeardedprentice-jobsofNature;andIbegantofeellikecollapsingonthecarpetfromsheerspiritualanaemia.Butwhenoneofthem,withaswingofherskirt,prostratedawholeregimentofmybravetinsoldiers,andneverapologizednorevenofferedheraidtowardrevivifyingthebattle-line,Icouldnothelpfeelingthatintactfulnessandconsiderationforothersshewasstillalittletoseek.AndIsaidasmuch,withsomedirectnessoflanguage.

           Thatwastheendofme,fromasocietypointofview.Rudenesstovisitorswastheunpardonablesin,andintwosecondsIhadmymarchingorders,andwassullenlywendingmywaytotheSt.