Part 2 (1/2)

'We must remember where she has been brought up, and be considerate,'

replied Lachesis.

'I dare say you three will get on very well with her,' squeaked Megasra.

'You always get on well with people.'

'We must remember how very strange things here must appear to her,'

observed Atropos.

'No one can deny that there are some very disagreeable sights,' said Clotho.

'There is something in that,' replied Tisiphone, looking in the gla.s.s, and arranging her serpents; 'and for my part, poor girl, I almost pity her, when I think she will have to visit the Harpies.'

At this moment four little pages entered the room, who, without exception, were the most hideous dwarfs that ever attended upon a monarch. They were clothed only in parti-coloured tunics, and their b.r.e.a.s.t.s and legs were quite bare. From the countenance of the first you would have supposed he was in a convulsion; his hands were clenched and his hair stood on end: this was Terror! The protruded veins of the second seemed ready to burst, and his rubicund visage decidedly proved that he had blood in his head; this was Rage! The third was of an ashen colour throughout: this was Paleness! And the fourth, with a countenance not without traces of beauty, was even more disgusting than his companions from the quant.i.ty of horrible flies, centipedes, snails, and other noisome, slimy, and indescribable monstrosities that were crawling all about his body and feeding on his decaying features. The name of this fourth page was Death!

'The King and Queen!' announced the pages.

Pluto, during the night, had prepared Proserpine for the worst, and had endeavoured to persuade her that his love would ever compensate for all annoyances. She was in excellent spirits and in very good humour; therefore, though she could with difficulty stifle a scream when she recognised the Furies, she received the congratulations of the Parcae with much cordiality.

'I have the pleasure, Proserpine, of presenting you to my family,' said Pluto.

'Who, I am sure, hope to make Hades agreeable to your Majesty,' rejoined Clotho. The Furies uttered a suppressed sound between a murmur and a growl.

'I have ordered the chariot,' said Pluto. 'I propose to take the Queen a ride, and show her some of our lions.'

'She will, I am sure, be delighted,' said Lachesis.

'I long to see Ixion,' said Proserpine.

'The wretch!' shrieked Tisiphone.

'I cannot help thinking that he has been very unfairly treated,' said Proserpine.

'What!' squeaked Megaera. 'The ravisher!'

'Ay! it is all very well,' replied Proserpine; 'but, for my part, if we knew the truth of that affair-----'

'Is it possible that your Majesty can speak in such a tone of levity of such an offender?' shrieked Tisiphone.

'Is it possible?' moaned Alecto.

'Ah! you have heard only one side of the question; but for my part, knowing as much of Juno as I do-----'

'The Queen of Heaven!' observed Atropos, with an intimidating glance.

'The Queen of Fiddlestick!' said Proserpine; 'as great a flirt as ever existed, with all her prudish looks.'

The Fates and the Furies exchanged glances of astonishment and horror.

'For my part,' continued Proserpine, 'I make it a rule to support the weaker side, and nothing will ever persuade me that Ixion is not a victim, and a pitiable one.'