crevices of the rocks had very dismal foliage --
and by and by, although it was hardly noon, the
air became obscured with a gray twilight. The
black horses had rushed along so swiftly, that they
were already beyond the limits of the sunshine.
But the duskier it grew, the more did Pluto's
visage assume an air of satisfaction. After all,
he was not an ill-looking person, especially
when he left off twisting his features into a smile
that did not belong to them. Proserpina peeped
at his face through the gathering dusk, and
hoped that he might not be so very wicked as
she at first thought him.

"Ah, this twilight is truly refreshing," said
King Pluto, "after being so tormented with that
ugly and impertinent glare of the sun. How
much more agreeable is lamplight or torchlight,
more particularly when reflected from diamonds.
It will be a magnificent sight, when we get to
my palace."

"Is it much farther?" asked Proserpina.
"And will you carry me back when I have
seen it?"

""We will talk of that by and by," answered
Plato. "We are just entering my dominions.

[[225]]

p224 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p225w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p226

v?