Iii

"Ah, but if you knew how time has dragged, days, nights! All the neighbour-talk with man and maid--such men! All the fuss and trouble of street-sounds, window-sights; All the worry of flapping door and echoing roof; and then, All the fancies ... Who were they had leave, dared try Darker arts that almost struck despair in me? If you knew but how I dwelt down here!" quoth I: "And was I so better off up there?" quoth She,