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Look at it"!--he
indicated the sleepers forward by a movement of his head.
"I suppose they WERE rather feeble people," said Amanda.
"Who?"
"The Venetians."
"They were traders--and nothing more. Just as we are. And when
they were rich they got splendid clothes and feasted and rested.
Much as we do."
Amanda surveyed him. "We don't rest."
"We idle."
"We are seeing things."
"Don't be a humbug, Amanda. We are making love. Just as they did.
And it has been--ripping. In Salona they made love tremendously.
They did nothing else until the barbarians came over the
mountains. . . ."
"Well," said Amanda virtuously, "we will do something else."
He made no answer and her expression became profoundly thoughtful.
Of course this wandering must end. He had been growing impatient
for some time. But it was difficult, she perceived, to decide just
what to do with him. . . .
Benham picked up the thread of his musing.
He was seeing more and more clearly that all civilization was an
effort, and so far always an inadequate and very partially
successful effort.


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