..NOW TIRED MEN THROW BACK THE SHUTTERS & STEP BLINKING INTO THE PALE HOT LIGHT – ETIOLATED FLOWERS OF AFTERNOONS SPENT IN ANGUISH, TOSSING UPON UGLY BEDS, BANDAGED BY DREAMS. I HAVE BECOME ONE OF THESE POOR CLERKS OF THE CONSCIENCE, A CITIZEN OF ALEXANDRIA. SHE PASSES BELOW MY WINDOW, SMILING AS IF AT SOME PRIVATE SATISFACTION, SOFTLY FANNING HER CHEEKS WITH A LITTLE REED FAN. IT IS A SMILE WHICH I SHALL PROBABLY NEVER SEE AGAIN FOR IN COMPANY SHE ONLY LAUGHS, SHOWING THOSE MAGNIFICENT WHITE TEETH. BUT THIS SAD YET QUICK SMILE IS FULL OF A QUALITY WHICH ONE DOES NOT THINK SHE OWNS – THE POWER OF MISCHIEF. YOU WOULD HAVE SAID THAT SHE WAS OF A MORE TRAGIC CAST OF CHARACTER & LACKED COMMON HUMOR. ONLY THE OBSTINATE MEMORY OF THIS SMILE IS TO MAKE ME DOUBT IN THE DAYS TO COME

FROM ALEXANDRIA QUARTET BY LAWRENCE DURRELL