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And he put his arms around her； and his cheek to hers； and all the battle and the disappointment and the fear and the strangeness went out of him。 And down by the lake the wee frogs chirruped； and in the apple…tree the nightingale never ceased from singing。 And they stayed there shoulder to shoulder and cheek to cheek。 And the moon rose higher。 And it seemed only a moment they were there； until they heard the voice of Li Po in the garden。
〃Are you there； Golden Bells？ Are you there at all； at all？ For two hours I've been hunting and couldn't get sight or sign of you。 I have the new song； Golden Bells。 For a long time I was dumb； but a little while ago the power came to me； and I have the new song； Golden Bells； the marrying song。 。 。〃
CHAPTER XX
〃Thus far；〃 said Malachi of the Long Glen； 〃the story of Marco Polo。〃
〃That is a warm story； Malachi of the Glen； a warm and colored story； and great life to it； and Golden Bells is as alive to me as herself there by the fire； and I can see Marco Polo as plain as I can see my cousin Randall； and he playing with dogs。 。 。〃
〃If they weren't real and live and warm； what would a story be； Brian Oge； but a jumble of dead words？ A house with nobody in it； the poorest thing in the world。〃
〃But Marco Polo came back to Venice； Malachi； and fought in the sea…wars。〃
〃There's more to tell； Brian Oge。 But sometimes I wonder shouldn't the best part of the story be kept to yourself。 The people aren't as wise as they used to be； brown lad。 The end of a story now is a bit of kissing and courting and the kettle boiling to be making tea。
〃But the older ones were wiser； Brian Donn。 They knew that the rhythm of life is long and swinging； and that time doesn't stop short as a clock。 Sure； what is a kiss from the finest of women but a pleasant thing； like a long putt sunk； or the first salmon of the year caught like a trout； or the ball through the goal before the whistle blows？ And there's many a well…filled belly over a hungry soul。
〃But a story is how destiny is interwoven； the fine and gallant and the tragic points of life。 And you mustn't look at them with the eyes of the body； but you must feel with the antennae of your being。 Now； if you were to look at the Lord Jesus with physical eyes； what would it be but a kindly； crazy man and He coming to a hard and bitter end？ Look at it simply； and what was the story of Troy but a dirty row over a woman？
〃But often times the stories with endings that grocer's daughters do not be liking are the stories that are worth while。 And the worth while stories do be lasting。 Never clip a story half…ways because Widow Robinson doesn't like to have her mind disturbed； and she warming her breadth at the fire。 The Widow Robinson may have a white coin to buy a book with； and think you're the grand author entirely and you pleasing her。 But Lord God； who gave you the stories； know you for a louse。
〃I call to your mind the stories of great English writer the plays of the Prince of Denmark； and the poor blind king on the cliff； and the Scottish chieftain and his terrible wife。 The Widow Robinson will not like those stories； and she will be keeping her white coin 。 。 。But those stories will endure forever。 。 。
〃I will now tell you of Marco Polo； and him leaving China。 。 。
CHAPTER XXI
You must see him now as he was seventeen years after he had come to China； and fourteen years after his wife； little Golden Bells； had died； a lean figure of a man； with his hair streaked with gray； a lean； hard face on him and savage eyes； and all the body of him steel and whale…bone from riding on the great Khan's business； and riding fast and furious； so that he might sleep and forget； but forgetting never came to him。 。 。You might think he was a harsh man from his face and eyes； but he was the straight man in administering justice； and he had the soft heart for the poor the heart of Golden Bells。 He was easily moved to anger； but the fine Chinese people never minded him； knowing he was a suffering man。 Though never a word of Golden Bells came from his mouth； barring maybe that line of Dante's； the saddest line in the world； and that he used to repeat to himself and no one there：
。 。 。〃'la bella persona Che mi fu tolta。 。 。che mi fu tolta'； who was taken from me； Taken！ Taken from me！〃
And oftentimes a look would come over his face as if he were listening for a voice to speak listening； listening； and then a wee harsh laugh would come from him； very heartbreaking to hear； and whatever was in his hand； papers or a riding…whip； he would pitch down and walk away。 。 。
He had just come in from the borders of the Arctic lands； from giving the khan's orders to the squat； hairy tribes who live by the icy shores； and had come to the garden by the Lake of Cranes； the garden where the Golden Bells of singing and laughter were dumb this armful of years； and he was alone； and the listening look was on his face； when there came Kubla and Li Po and the old magician。 。 。
Now Kubla was very old； so old he could hardly walk； and very frail； and Li Po was very old； too； and gray in the face； and sadder in the eyes than ever； and the magician's white beard had grown to his knees； but there was no more humor in his eyes。 。 。And Marco Polo helped the old khan to sit down。
〃Oh； sir； why did you come to me？ Sure I was going to you the moment I had changed my riding…clothes。 。 。Sir； you should have stayed in your bed。 。 。〃
〃There was something on my mind； Marco； and the old do be thinking long to get things off their mind。〃
〃What can I do sir？〃
〃Marco； my child； you mustn't take what I say amiss。 But I want you to be going back； to be going back to Venice。〃
〃Sir； what have I done to dissatisfy you？ In all my embassies have I been weak to the strong or bullying toward the weak？ Does an oppressed man complain of injustice； does a merchant complain of being cheated； or a woman say she was wronged？〃
〃Now； Marco of my heart； didn't I say not to be taking it amiss？ Is there any one closer to me nor you； or is it likely I'd be listening to stories brought against you？ It's just this。 I'm an old and tired man； Marco Beag； and in a week or a moon at most I'm due to die； so the Sanang tells me。 Don't be sorry； son。 Be glad for me。 Life has been a wee bit too long。
〃And now； son dear； I want to tell you。 You've been closer to me than my own sons； and you've been the dear lad。 And there's not one man in all China can say you did a harsh or an unjust thing； but； my dear son； 'tis just the way of people； there's a power of hard feeling against you in this land； you being a stranger and having stood so high。
〃So when I'm dead； dear son； there's many would do you an injury； and treat you badly； aye； in our family itself； though they smile on you now。 Let you be going now； Marco。 I'll miss you to close my eyes for me； but my heart will be lighter。 It will so。 I couldn't sleep easy； and you ill treated in this land of mine。 You ask him； too； Li Po。〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 Marco laughed； 〃and； Li Po； what is ill treatment to me？ Sorrow's my blood brother。 What I've suffered！ Do you think I could suffer more？〃
〃I