As for honest Pluto , he never guessed at the secret . `` My little Proserpina , '' said the king , sitting down , and affectionately drawing her between his knees , `` here is Quicksilver , who tells me that a great many misfortunes have befallen innocent people on account of my detaining you in my dominions . To confess the truth , I myself had already reflected that it was an unjustifiable act to take you away from your good mother . But , then , you must consider , my dear child , that this vast palace is apt to be gloomy -LRB- although the precious stones certainly shine very bright -RRB- , and that I am not of the most cheerful disposition , and that therefore it was a natural thing enough to seek for the society of some merrier creature than myself . I hoped you would take my crown for a plaything , and me -- ah , you laugh , naughty Proserpina -- me , grim as I am , for a playmate . It was a silly expectation . '' `` Not so extremely silly , '' whispered Proserpina . `` You have really amused me very much , sometimes . '' `` Thank you , '' said King Pluto , rather dryly . `` But I can see plainly enough , that you think my palace a dusky prison , and me the iron-hearted keeper of it . And an iron heart I should surely have , if I could detain you here any longer , my poor child , when it is now six months since you tasted food . I give you your liberty . Go with Quicksilver . Hasten home to your dear mother . '' Now , although you may not have supposed it , Proserpina found it impossible to take leave of poor King Pluto without some regrets , and a good deal of compunction for not telling him about the pomegranate . She even shed a tear or two , thinking how lonely and cheerless the great palace would seem to him , with all its ugly glare of artificial light , after she herself -- his one little ray of natural sunshine , whom he had stolen , to be sure , but only because he valued her so much -- after she should have departed . I know not how many kind things she might have said to the disconsolate king of the mines , had not Quicksilver hurried her way . `` Come along quickly , '' whispered he in her ear , `` or his majesty may change his royal mind . And take care , above all things , that you say nothing of what was brought you on the golden salver . '' In a very short time , they had passed the great gateway -LRB- leaving the three-headed Cerberus , barking , and yelping , and growling , with threefold din , behind them -RRB- , and emerged upon the surface of the earth .
It was delightful XXXXX behold , as Proserpina hastened along , how the path grew verdant behind and on either side of her .
above as behind for if of on to upon with