第9部分(第3/7 頁)

girls　sharply　that　they　were　being　ungrateful　and　that　Sisyphus　had　proven　himself　worthy　without　a　doubt　by　saving　his　life。　At　his　admonition；　their　cries　became　sniffles6；　and　they　sat　quietly；　swollen…eyed　and　sullen。

Sisyphus　surveyed　his　choices　and　smiled　when　his　eyes　landed　upon　Merope。　“I　would　have　Merope；　sir。　Merope　will　be　my　wife。”　Her　sisters’　heads　snapped　up；　and　where　there　had　been　dread　a　moment　before；　there　was　now　jubilation7　and　chagrin　in　quick　succession。

“You　would　prefer　Merope　over　us？”　the　eldest　asked　incredulously。　“Have　you　no　eyes　to　see？”

Their　father　spoke　harshly　again；　and　all　the　sisters　but　Merope　left　the　room。　“Sisyphus；　I　am　happy　to　give　you　Merope’s　hand　in　marriage；　but　I　must　know　why　you　chose　her　but　not　one　of　my　other　daughters。”

“Sir；”　the　mason　explained；　“your　daughters　are　brilliant　beauties；　that　no　one　can　deny。　But　their　beauty　will　fade　and　their　brilliance　will　bee　brittle　and　bitter　when　they　realize　they　are　no　longer　desirable。　But　Merope’s　beauty　is　of　the　spirit；　and　that　will　not　fade。　Her　brilliance　is　of　the　mind；　and　that　will　not　fade。　I　think　I　made　the　wisest　choice　from　among　all　of　your　daughters；　sir。”

So　Merope　and　Sisyphus　were　married；　and　over　time；　his　prophecy　came　to　pass。　Merope’s　sisters　lost　their　beauty　and　ceased　to　be　the　quarry　of　young　men’s　quest　for　love。　They　became　bitter　and　morose；　locked　in　their　father’s　house　with　no　more　gentleman　callers　to