Страна слепых

           Thevalleybecametheworldforhim,andtheworldbeyondthemountainswheremenlivedinsunlightseemednomorethanafairytalehewouldsomedaypourintoherears. Verytentativelyandtimidlyhespoketoherofsight. 

           Sightseemedtoherthemostpoeticaloffancies,andshelistenedtohisdescriptionofthestarsandthemountainsandherownsweetwhite-litbeautyasthoughitwasaguiltyindulgence. Shedidnotbelieve,shecouldonlyhalfunderstand,butshewasmysteriouslydelighted,anditseemedtohimthatshecompletelyunderstood. 

           Hislovelostitsaweandtookcourage. PresentlyhewasfordemandingherofYacobandtheeldersinmarriage,butshebecamefearfulanddelayed. AnditwasoneofhereldersisterswhofirsttoldYacobthatMedina-sarotiandNunezwereinlove. 

           TherewasfromthefirstverygreatoppositiontothemarriageofNunezandMedina-saroti; notsomuchbecausetheyvaluedherasbecausetheyheldhimasabeingapart,anidiot,incompetentthingbelowthepermissiblelevelofaman. Hersistersopposeditbitterlyasbringingdiscreditonthemall; andoldYacob,thoughhehadformedasortoflikingforhisclumsy,obedientserf,shookhisheadandsaidthethingcouldnotbe. Theyoungmenwereallangryattheideaofcorruptingtherace,andonewentsofarastorevileandstrikeNunez.Hestruckback. Thenforthefirsttimehefoundanadvantageinseeing,evenbytwilight,andafterthatfightwasovernoonewasdisposedtoraiseahandagainsthim. Buttheystillfoundhismarriageimpossible.