The Lesson

A Minor Interpolation

It has often plagued princes that they are known to be more cowardly than other men, despite all the advantages they begin with. Likewise, the most common birds may find themselves disgusted by the behavior of an eagle when it is confronted by a dog. Now, that is not even taking into account whether or not the other birds recognize the eagle (as many men do) to be the preeminent bird. Of course, although I find eagles very special and fine to see and come close to, when it is possible, as in the case of a convalescing eagle with a broken wing, I nevertheless strongly disagree with anyone setting the eagle up as the best bird. Ravens, crows, and owls are far more compelling to me, and I haven’t gotten so far as to mention that magnificent fellow, the Ceraneous Vulture, who looks like nothing so much as a bishop or archimandrite free of his burdensome entourage and set foot upon the common roads with nary a care. I have even, I will tell you, seen a pair of these fine darlings together, quarreling, and the spectacle was something marvelous.

To wit, cowards are odious, and even more so when discovered among the ranks of the strong.

These are some of the thoughts that crossed Loring’s mind as she stared upwards through the telescope. I won’t go deeper into it, other than to say that part of the equipage from the balloon procession broke off and fell, and that perhaps even one or more of the children were nearly killed in that way, right in the street.

Of course, they were quick-footed and managed to escape. How glad they were, suddenly after, laughing and examining the wicker crates and leather bindings, the smashed provisions. One found a tricorn hat and started immediately giving orders to the others, who obeyed without question. At some point in these proceedings, Loring went inside and shut the window.

Downstairs in the parlor, she set the pieces up again on the board. He probably hadn’t managed the Knight’s Tour; there hadn’t been very much time. It was likely, though, that he was thinking about it at that moment. Might one say that? That someone else would be thinking of something just then?

She sat down in the chair, the high-backed one, where she often slept. Then she stood and turned Ezra’s photograph about the right way, so it was no longer facing the wall. She sat again, and leaned full back in the chair. She looked at the photograph then, as she had looked at it a thousand times, and it seemed to her to be the mention of her task — to go at once to the cemetery. There was still some light left. She wasn’t really hungry at all, and could eat later. She would go to the cemetery.