I did--several; and spoiled a promising Palmer in idly trying to audit your discourse at the interesting point of quarrel--just as you, sir, threw yourself back on your Swing, with an angry jerk, and Talboys started up, "like Teneriffe or Atlas removed," endangering the stability of the Tent. NORTH. My dear Talboys, I was saying to you, when rudely interrupted by Buller, that as in our demonstration of Short Time at Cyprus, we, purposely and determinedly, and wisely kept Long Time out of sight, on account of the inextricable perplexity and confusion that would otherwise have involved the argument, so now let us, in showing forth Long Time at Cyprus, keep out of sight Short--and then shall we finally have before our ken TWO TIMES at Cyprus, each firmly established on its own ground--and imperiously demanding of the Critics of this great Tragedy--Reconcilement. Reconcilement it may be beyond their power to give--but let them first see the GREAT FACT which not one of the whole set have seen--HAND IN HAND ONE DAY AND UNASSIGNED WEEKS! The condition is altogether anomalous-- TALBOYS. A DAY OF THE CALENDAR, AND A MONTH OF THE CALENDAR! No human soul ever dreams of the dreadful sayings and doings all coming off IN A DAY! till he looks--till he is made to look--as we have made Seward and Buller to look--for they heard every word we said--and finds himself nailed by Act and Scene. NORTH. To some FIFTEEN HOURS. BULLER. I thought you were going to show forth Long Time at Cyprus. NORTH. Why, there it is, staring you in the face everywhere--you may see it with your eyes shut--and as most people read with their eyes shut, they see it--and they see it only--while-- BULLER. Why, sir, since you won't get on a little faster, Talboys and I must be Ushers to Long Time. NORTH. Be--do. TALBOYS. Long Time cunningly insinuates itself, serpentwise, throughout Desdemona's first recorded conversation with Cassio, at the beginning of Scene III., Act III.--the "Dreadful Scene." Thus-- "Assure thee, If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it To the last article: my lord shall never rest; I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience; His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; I'll intermingle everything he does With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; For thy solicitor shall rather die Than give thy cause away." This points to a protracted time in the future--and though announcing an intention merely, yet somehow it leaves an impression that Desdemona carries her intention into effect--that she does "watch him tame," does make his "bed seem a school"--does "intermingle everything she does with Cassio's suit." The passage recurred to my mind, I recollect, when you first hinted to me the question of time; and no doubt it tells so on the minds of many-- NORTH. Inconsiderate people. TALBOYS. All people are more or less inconsiderate, sir. NORTH. True. TALBOYS.