Other mysterious words, besides what are above written, they spoke
together; but I understood no more, and even question whether I
fairly understood so much as this. By long brooding over our
recollections, we subtilize them into something akin to imaginary
stuff, and hardly capable of being distinguished from it. In a few
moments they were completely beyond ear-shot. A breeze stirred after
them, and awoke the leafy tongues of the surrounding trees, which
forthwith began to babble, as if innumerable gossips had all at once
got wind of Zenobia's secret. But, as the breeze grew stronger, its
voice among the branches was as if it said, "Hush! Hush!" and I
resolved that to no mortal would I disclose what I had heard. And,
though there might be room for casuistry, such, I conceive, is the
most equitable rule in all similar conjunctures.
XIII. ZENOBIA'S LEGEND
The illustrious Society of Blithedale, though it toiled in downright
earnest for the good of mankind, yet not unfrequently illuminated its
laborious life with an afternoon or evening of pastime. Picnics
under the trees were considerably in vogue; and, within doors,
fragmentary bits of theatrical performance, such as single acts of
tragedy or comedy, or dramatic proverbs and charades. Zenobia,
besides, was fond of giving us readings from Shakespeare, and often
with a depth of tragic power, or breadth of comic effect, that made
one feel it an intolerable wrong to the world that she did not at
once go upon the stage.
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