Mardi Volume 1 Chapter 77 - The House of the Afternoon

In which the narrator leads us through the verdant and secluded glen of Willamilla, revealing a mountain grotto that serves as a natural palace where lively waters and cool breezes mingle amidst ancient stone idols and sprawling vines. This sanctuary, known as the House of the Afternoon, offers a refuge of shade and fresh air, where the princely Donjalolo is carried daily in his palanquin, forever avoiding the direct gaze of the sun.