In the grateful coolness men came and went, buying,
joking, offering neighborly advice to chance-met people.
A plump woman, who carried two tiny silver fish in an immense flat
basket, grinned at Miss Drake, and pointed roguishly.
"See the two boats going by!" she called. "Her feet are bigger than my
Golden Lilies!" And laughing, she wriggled her own dusty toes, strong,
free, and perfect in modeling.
An old, withered barber looked up from shaving a blue forehead, under a
tree.
"Their women," he growled, "are shameless, and walk everywhere!"
But a stern man, bearing a palm-leaf fan and a lark in a cage, frowned
him down.
"She brought my son safe out of the Three Sicknesses," he declared.
"Mind your trade, Catcher of Lively Ones!" Then bending over the cage,
with solicitude, he began gently to fan the lark. As Heywood and the
girl paused beside him, he glanced up, and smiled gravely. "I give my
pet his airing," he said; and then, quickly but quietly, "When you reach
the town, do not pass through the West Quarter. It is full of
evil-minded persons. Their placards are posted."
A shrill trio of naked boys came racing and squabbling, to offer
grasshoppers for sale.
Pages:
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187