So restitution was made without fraud or dishonour and they returned to the temple each in his proper shape with his attributes, and listened to the end of that conversation between the First Substitute and his august Consort who ceased not to reprehend each other upon all matters within their observation and their experience and their imagination. When the steeds of recrimination had ceased to career across the plains of memory, and when the drum of evidence was no longer beaten by the drumstick of malevolence, and the bird of argument had taken refuge in the rocks of silence, the Excellent and Trustworthy Archangel Jibrail bowed himself before our pure Forefather and said: “O my Lord and Fount of all Power and Wisdom, is it permitted to worship the Visible God?” Then by the operation of the Mercy of Allah, the string was loosed in the throat of our First Substitute and the oppression was lifted from his lungs and he laughed without cessation and said: “By Allah I am no God but the mate of this most detestable Woman whom I love, and who is necessary to me beyond all the necessities.” But he ceased not to entertain Jibrail with tales of the follies and the unreasonableness of our Lady Eve till the night time. The Peacock also bowed before the Lady Eve and said: “Is it permitted to adore the Source and the Excellence?” and the string was loosened in the Lady Eve’s throat and she laughed aloud and merrily and said: “By Allah I am no goddess in any sort, but the mate of this mere Man whom, in spite of all, I love beyond and above my soul.” But she detained the Peacock with tales of the stupidity and the childishness of our pure Forefather till the Sun rose. Then Adam entered, and the two looked upon each other laughing. Then said Adam: “O my Lady and Crown of my Torments, is it peace between us?” And our Lady Eve answered: “O my Lord and sole Cause of my Unreason, it is peace till the next time and the next occasion.” And Adam said: “I accept, and I abide the chance.” Our Lady Eve said: “O Man, wouldst thou have it otherwise upon any composition?” Adam said: “O Woman, upon no composition would I have it otherwise--not even for the return to the Garden of the Tree; and this I swear on thy head and the heads of all who shall proceed from thee.” And Eve said: “I also.” So they removed both Altars and laughed and built a new one between. Then Jibrail and the Peacock departed and prostrated themselves before the Throne and told what had been said. It was answered: “How left ye them?” They said: “Before one Altar.” It was answered: “What was written upon the Altar?” They said: “The Decree of Expulsion as it was spoken--‘_Get ye down, the one of you an enemy unto the other_.’” And it was answered: “Enough! It shall stand in the place of both Our Curse and Our Blessing.” SEA CONSTABLES A Tale of ’15 THE CHANGELINGS