From to-day I am going to be Knave!"
Now it came to pass that, while every one was trying to correct the
improprieties of the guilty Queen of Hearts, they began to make mistakes
themselves. The Aces found themselves elbowed out by the Kings. The
Kings got muddled up with the Knaves. The Nines and Tens assumed airs
as though they belonged to the Great Court Cards. The Twos and Threes
were found secretly taking the places specially resented for the Fours
and Fives. Confusion had never been so confounded before.
Many spring seasons had come and gone in that Island of Cards. The
Kokil, the bird of Spring, had sung its song year after year. But it
had never stirred the blood as it stirred it now. In days gone by the
sea had sung its tireless melody. But, then, it had proclaimed only
the inflexible monotony of the Rule. And suddenly its waves were
telling, through all their flashing light and luminous shade and myriad
voices, the deepest yearnings of the heart of love!
VI
Where are vanished now their prim, round, regular, complacent features?
Here is a face full of love-sick longing.
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