Page 145 - erewhon

going. I had never, however, yet been asked to go with them
myself.
It is not easy to convey a person’s manner by words, and
I can hardly give any idea of the peculiar feeling that came
upon me when I saw the ladies on the point of starting for
the bank. There was a something of regret, a something as
though they would wish to take me with them, but did not
like to ask me, and yet as though I were hardly to ask to be
taken. I was determined, however, to bring matters to an
issue with my hostess about my going with them, and after
a little parleying, and many inquiries as to whether I was
perfectly sure that I myself wished to go, it was decided that
I might do so.
We passed through several streets of more or less con-
siderable houses, and at last turning round a corner we
came upon a large piazza, at the end of which was a mag-
nificent building, of a strange but noble architecture and
of great antiquity. It did not open directly on to the piazza,
there being a screen, through which was an archway, be-
tween the piazza and the actual precincts of the bank. On
passing under the archway we entered upon a green sward,
round which there ran an arcade or cloister, while in front
of us uprose the majestic towers of the bank and its vener-
able front, which was divided into three deep recesses and
adorned with all sorts of marbles and many sculptures. On
either side there were beautiful old trees wherein the birds
were busy by the hundred, and a number of quaint but sub-
stantial houses of singularly comfortable appearance; they
were situated in the midst of orchards and gardens, and

1 Erewhon