Chapter 6

           Urbane,tocomfortthem,thequakerlibrarianpurred:

           —Andwehave,havewenot,thosepricelesspagesofWilhelmMeister.Agreatpoetonagreatbrotherpoet.Ahesitatingsoultakingarmsagainstaseaoftroubles,tornbyconflictingdoubts,asoneseesinreallife.

           Hecameastepasinkapaceforwardonneatsleathercreakingandastepbackwardasinkapaceonthesolemnfloor.

           Anoiselessattendantsettingopenthedoorbutslightlymadehimanoiselessbeck.

           —Directly,saidhe,creakingtogo,albeitlingering.Thebeautifulineffectualdreamerwhocomestogriefagainsthardfacts.OnealwaysfeelsthatGoethe’sjudgmentsaresotrue.Trueinthelargeranalysis.

           Twicreakinglyanalysishecorantoedoff.Bald,mostzealousbythedoorhegavehislargeearalltotheattendant’swords:heardthem:andwasgone.

           Twoleft.

           —MonsieurdelaPalice,Stephensneered,wasalivefifteenminutesbeforehisdeath.

           —Haveyoufoundthosesixbravemedicals,JohnEglintonaskedwithelder’sgall,towriteParadiseLostatyourdictation?TheSorrowsofSatanhecallsit.

           Smile.SmileCranly’ssmile.

           Firsthetickledher

           Thenhepattedher

           Thenhepassedthefemalecatheter

           Forhewasamedical

           Jollyoldmedi...

           —IfeelyouwouldneedonemoreforHamlet.Sevenisdeartothemysticmind.TheshiningsevenW.B.callsthem.

           Glittereyedhisrufousskullclosetohisgreencappeddesklampsoughtthefacebeardedamiddarkgreenershadow,anollav,holyeyed.Helaughedlow:asizar’slaughofTrinity:unanswered.

           OrchestralSatan,weepingmanyarood

           Tearssuchasangelsweep.

           Edegliaveadelculfattotrombetta.