We could imagine no explanation that would begin to explain. Had there been an invasion? an earthquake? a pestilence? Had the nation been swept out of e11stence?

But guessing was profitless. I must go — at once. I borrowed the king’s navy — a “ship” no bigger than a steam launch — and was soon ready.

The parting — ah, yes, that was hard. As I was devouring the child with last kisses, it brisked up and jabbered out its vocabulary! — the first time in more than two weeks, and it made fools of us for joy. The darling mispronunciations of childhood! — dear me, there’s no music that can touch it; and how one grieves when it wastes away and dissolves into correctness, knowing it will never visit his bereaved ear again.