" Is that true," I asked, " that song?" " It is a metaphor," said Mrs. Davis, " it has metaphorical truth." " And the end of the mechanical age," I said, " is that a metaphor?" " The end of the mechanical age," said Mrs. Davis, " is in my judgment an actuality straining to become a metaphor. One must wish it luck, I suppose. One must cheer it on. Intellectual rigor demands that we give these damned metaphors every chance, even if they are inimical to personal well-being and comfort. We have a duty to understand everything, whether we like it or not–a duty I would scant if I could." At that moment the water jumped into the boat and sank us. "