第6章

Topreparethemformytemporaryabsence,IwasonedaytellingthemwhileatworkthatIwouldlongagohaveleftthebadgiants,butthatIlovedtheLittleOnessomuch——when,asbyoneaccord,theycamerushingandcrowdinguponme;theyscrambledovereachotherandupthetreeanddroppedonmyhead,untilIwasnearlysmothered。Withthreeverylittleonesinmyarms,oneoneachshoulderclingingtomyneck,onestandingstraightuponmyhead,fourorfiveholdingmefastbythelegs,othersgrapplingmybodyandarms,andamultitudeclimbinganddescendinguponthese,Iwashelplessasoneoverwhelmedbylava。Absorbedinthemerrystruggle,notoneofthemsawmytyrantcominguntilhewasalmostuponme。

Withjustonecryof"Takecare,goodgiant！"theyranfrommelikemice,theydroppedfrommelikehedgehogs,theyflewfrommeupthetreelikesquirrels,andthesamemoment,sharproundthestemcamethebadgiant,anddealtmesuchablowontheheadwithastickthatIfelltotheground。Thechildrentoldmeafterwardsthattheysenthim"suchamanybumpsofbigapplesandstones"thathewasfrightened,andranblunderinghome。

WhenIcametomyselfitwasnight。Abovemewereafewpalestarsthatexpectedthemoon。IthoughtIwasalone。Myheadachedbadly,andIwasterriblyathirst。

Iturnedwearilyonmyside。Themomentmyeartouchedtheground,Iheardthegushingandgurglingofwater,andthesoftnoisesmademegroanwithlonging。AtonceIwasamidamultitudeofsilentchildren,anddeliciouslittlefruitsbegantovisitmylips。Theycameandcameuntilmythirstwasgone。

ThenIwasawareofsoundsIhadneverheardtherebefore;theairwasfulloflittlesobs。

Itriedtositup。Apileofsmallbodiesinstantlyheapeditselfatmyback。ThenIstruggledtomyfeet,withmuchpushingandpullingfromtheLittleOnes,whowerewonderfullystrongfortheirsize。

"Youmustgoaway,goodgiant,"theysaid。"Whenthebadgiantsseeyouhurt,theywillalltrampleonyou。"

"IthinkImust,"Ianswered。

"Goandgrowstrong,andcomeagain,"theysaid。

"Iwill,"Ireplied——andsatdown。

"Indeedyoumustgoatonce！"whisperedLona,whohadbeensupportingme,andnowkneltbesideme。

"Ilistenedathisdoor,"saidoneofthebiggerboys,"andheardthebadgiantsaytohiswifethathehadfoundyouidle,talkingtoalotofmolesandsquirrels,andwhenhebeatyou,theytriedtokillhim。Hesaidyouwereawizard,andtheymustknockyou,ortheywouldhavenopeace。"

"Iwillgoatonce,"Isaid,"andcomebackassoonasIhavefoundoutwhatiswantedtomakeyoubiggerandstronger。"

"Wedon\'twanttobebigger,"theyanswered,lookingveryserious。

"WeWON\'Tgrowbadgiants！——Wearestrongnow;youdon\'tknowhowmuchstrong！"

Itwasnouseholdingthemoutaprospectthathadnotanyattractionforthem！Isaidnothingmore,butroseandmovedslowlyuptheslopeofthevalley。Atoncetheyformedthemselvesintoalongprocession;someledtheway,somewalkedwithmehelpingme,andtherestfollowed。Theykeptfeedingmeaswewent。

"Youarebroken,"theysaid,"andmuchredjuicehasrunoutofyou:

putsomein。"

Whenwereachedtheedgeofthevalley,therewasthemoonjustliftingherforeheadovertherimofthehorizon。

"Shehascometotakecareofyou,andshowyoutheway,"saidLona。

Iquestionedthoseaboutmeaswewalked,andlearnedtherewasagreatplacewithagiant—girlforqueen。WhenIaskedifitwasacity,theysaidtheydidnotknow。Neithercouldtheytellhowfaroff,orinwhatdirectionitwas,orwhatwasthegiant—girl\'sname;

alltheyknewwas,thatshehatedtheLittleOnes,andwouldliketokillthem,onlyshecouldnotfindthem。Iaskedhowtheyknewthat;Lonaansweredthatshehadalwaysknownit。Ifthegiant—girlcametolookforthem,theymusthidehard,shesaid。WhenItoldthemIshouldgoandaskherwhyshehatedthem,theycriedout,"No,no！shewillkillyou,goodgiant;shewillkillyou！Sheisanawfulbad—giantwitch！"

IaskedthemwhereIwastogothen。Theytoldmethat,beyondthebaby—forest,awaywherethemooncamefrom,layasmoothgreencountry,pleasanttothefeet,withoutrocksortrees。ButwhenI

askedhowIwastosetoutforit,"Themoonwilltellyou,wethink,"theysaid。

Theyweretakingmeupthesecondbranchoftheriverbed:whentheysawthatthemoonhadreachedherheight,theystoppedtoreturn。

"Wehavenevergonesofarfromourtreesbefore,"theysaid。"Nowmindyouwatchhowyougo,thatyoumayseeinsideyoureyeshowtocomebacktous。"

"Andbewareofthegiant—womanthatlivesinthedesert,"saidoneofthebiggergirlsastheywereturning,"Isupposeyouhaveheardofher！"

"No,"Ianswered。

"Thentakecarenottogonearher。SheiscalledtheCat—woman。

Sheisawfullyugly——ANDSCRATCHES。"

Assoonasthebiggeronesstopped,thesmallerhadbeguntorunback。Theothersnowlookedatmegravelyforamoment,andthenwalkedslowlyaway。Lasttoleaveme,Lonaheldupthebabytobekissed,gazedinmyeyes,whispered,"TheCat—womanwillnothurtYOU,"andwentwithoutanotherword。Istoodawhile,gazingafterthemthroughthemoonlight,thenturnedand,withaheavyheart,beganmysolitaryjourney。SoonthelaughteroftheLittleOnesovertookme,likesheep—bellsinnumerable,ripplingtheair,andechoingintherocksaboutme。Iturnedagain,andagaingazedafterthem:theywentgambolingalong,withneveracareintheirsweetsouls。ButLonawalkedapartwithherbaby。

PonderingasIwent,Irecalledmanytraitsofmylittlefriends。

OncewhenIsuggestedthattheyshouldleavethecountryofthebadgiants,andgowithmetofindanother,theyanswered,"ButthatwouldbetoNOTourselves！"——sostronginthemwastheloveofplacethattheircountryseemedessentialtotheirverybeing！Withoutambitionorfear,discomfortorgreed,theyhadnomotivetodesireanychange;theyknewofnothingamiss;and,excepttheirbabies,theyhadneverhadachanceofhelpinganyonebutmyself:——Howweretheytogrow？Butagain,Whyshouldtheygrow？Inseekingtoimprovetheirconditions,mightInotdothemharm,andonlyharm？

Toenlargetheirmindsafterthenotionsofmyworld——mightitnotbetodistortandweakenthem？Theirfearofgrowthasapossiblestartforgianthoodmightbeinstinctive！

Thepartofphilanthropistisindeedadangerousone;andthemanwhowoulddohisneighbourgoodmustfirststudyhownottodohimevil,andmustbeginbypullingthebeamoutofhisowneye。

CHAPTERXV

ASTRANGEHOSTESS

Itravelledonattendedbythemoon。Asusualshewasfull——Ihadneverseenherother——andto—nightasshesankIthoughtIperceivedsomethinglikeasmileonhercountenance。

Whenherunderedgewasalittlebelowthehorizon,thereappearedinthemiddleofherdisc,asifithadbeenpainteduponit,acottage,throughtheopendoorandwindowofwhichsheshone;andwiththesightcametheconvictionthatIwasexpectedthere。Almostimmediatelythemoonwasgone,andthecottagehadvanished;thenightwasrapidlygrowingdark,andmywaybeingacrossaclosesuccessionofsmallravines,IresolvedtoremainwhereIwasandexpectthemorning。Istretchedmyself,therefore,inasandyhollow,mademysupperoffthefruitsthechildrenhadgivenmeatparting,andwassoonasleep。

Iwokesuddenly,sawabovemeconstellationsunknowntomyformerworld,andhadlainforawhilegazingatthem,whenIbecameawareofafigureseatedonthegroundalittlewayfromandaboveme。I

wasstartled,asoneisondiscoveringallatoncethatheisnotalone。Thefigurewasbetweenmeandthesky,sothatIsawitsoutlinewell。FromwhereIlaylowinthehollow,itseemedlargerthanhuman。

Itmoveditshead,andthenfirstIsawthatitsbackwastowardme。

"Willyounotcomewithme？"saidasweet,mellowvoice,unmistakablyawoman\'s。

Wishingtolearnmoreofmyhostess,"Ithankyou,"Ireplied,"butIamnotuncomfortablehere。Wherewouldyouhavemego？Ilikesleepingintheopenair。"

"Thereisnohurtintheair,"shereturned;"butthecreaturesthatroamthenightinthesepartsarenotsuchasamanwouldwillinglyhaveabouthimwhilehesleeps。"

"Ihavenotbeendisturbed,"Isaid。

"No;Ihavebeensittingbyyoueversinceyoulaydown。"

"Thatisverykindofyou！HowcameyoutoknowIwashere？Whydoyoushowmesuchfavour？"

"Isawyou,"sheanswered,stillwithherbacktome,"inthelightofthemoon,justasshewentdown。Iseebadlyintheday,butatnightperfectly。Theshadowofmyhousewouldhavehiddenyou,butbothitsdoorswereopen。Iwasoutonthewaste,andsawyougointothishollow。Youwereasleep,however,beforeIcouldreachyou,andIwasnotwillingtodisturbyou。PeoplearefrightenedifIcomeonthemsuddenly。TheycallmetheCat—woman。Itisnotmyname。"

Irememberedwhatthechildrenhadtoldme——thatshewasveryugly,andscratched。Buthervoicewasgentle,anditstonealittleapologetic:shecouldnotbeabadgiantess！

"Youshallnothearitfromme,"Ianswered,"PleasetellmewhatIMAYcallyou！"

"Whenyouknowme,callmebythenamethatseemstoyoutofitme,"

shereplied:"thatwilltellmewhatsortyouare。Peopledonotoftengivemetherightone。Itiswellwhentheydo。"

"Isuppose,madam,youliveinthecottageIsawintheheartofthemoon？"

"Ido。Ilivetherealone,exceptwhenIhavevisitors。Itisapoorplace,butIdowhatIcanformyguests,andsometimestheirsleepissweettothem。"

Hervoiceenteredintome,andmademefeelstrangelystill。

"Iwillgowithyou,madam,"Isaid,rising。

Sheroseatonce,andwithoutaglancebehindherledtheway。I

couldseeherjustwellenoughtofollow。Shewastallerthanmyself,butnotsotallasIhadthoughther。Thatsheneverturnedherfacetomemademecurious——nowiseapprehensive,hervoicerangsotrue。ButhowwasItofitherwithanamewhocouldnotseeher？

Istrovetogetalongsideofher,butfailed:whenIquickenedmypaceshequickenedhers,andkepteasilyaheadofme。AtlengthI

didbegintogrowalittleafraid。Whywasshesocarefulnottobeseen？Extraordinaryuglinesswouldaccountforit:shemightfearterrifyingme！Horrorofaninconceivablemonstrositybegantoassailme:wasIfollowingthroughthedarkanunheardofhideousness？

AlmostIrepentedofhavingacceptedherhospitality。

Neitherspoke,andthesilencegrewunbearable。IMUSTbreakit！

"Iwanttofindmyway,"Isaid,"toaplaceIhaveheardof,butwhosenameIhavenotyetlearned。Perhapsyoucantellitme！"

"Describeit,then,andIwilldirectyou。ThestupidBagsknownothing,andthecarelesslittleLoversforgetalmosteverything。"

"Wheredothoselive？"

"Youarejustcomefromthem！"

"Ineverheardthosenamesbefore！"

"Youwouldnothearthem。Neitherpeopleknowsitsownname！"

"Strange！"

"Perhapsso！buthardlyanyoneanywhereknowshisownname！Itwouldmakemanyafinegentlemanstaretohearhimselfaddressedbywhatisreallyhisname！"

Iheldmypeace,beginningtowonderwhatmynamemightbe。

"Whatnowdoyoufancyyours？"shewenton,asifawareofmythought。

"But,pardonme,itisamatterofnoconsequence。"

Ihadactuallyopenedmymouthtoanswerher,whenIdiscoveredthatmynamewasgonefromme。Icouldnotevenrecallthefirstletterofit！ThiswasthesecondtimeIhadbeenaskedmynameandcouldnottellit！

"Nevermind,"shesaid;"itisnotwanted。Yourrealname,indeed,iswrittenonyourforehead,butatpresentitwhirlsaboutsoirregularlythatnobodycanreadit。Iwilldomyparttosteadyit。Soonitwillgoslower,and,Ihope,settleatlast。"

Thisstartledme,andIwassilent。

Wehadleftthechannelsandwalkedalongtime,butnosignofthecottageyetappeared。

"TheLittleOnestoldme,"Isaidatlength,"ofasmoothgreencountry,pleasanttothefeet！"

"Yes？"shereturned。

"Theytoldmetooofagirlgiantessthatwasqueensomewhere:isthathercountry？"

"Thereisacityinthatgrassyland,"shereplied,"whereawomanisprincess。ThecityiscalledBulika。Butcertainlytheprincessisnotagirl！Sheisolderthanthisworld,andcametoitfromyours——withaterriblehistory,whichisnotoveryet。Sheisanevilperson,andprevailsmuchwiththePrinceofthePoweroftheAir。ThepeopleofBulikawereformerlysimplefolk,tillingthegroundandpasturingsheep。Shecameamongthem,andtheyreceivedherhospitably。Shetaughtthemtodigfordiamondsandopalsandsellthemtostrangers,andmadethemgiveuptillageandpasturageandbuildacity。Onedaytheyfoundahugesnakeandkilledit;

whichsoenragedherthatshedeclaredherselftheirprincess,andbecameterribletothem。ThenameofthecountryatthattimewasTHELANDOFWATERS;forthedrychannels,ofwhichyouhavecrossedsomany,werethenoverflowingwithlivetorrents;andthevalley,wherenowtheBagsandtheLovershavetheirfruit—trees,wasalakethatreceivedagreatpartofthem。Butthewickedprincessgatheredupinherlapwhatshecouldofthewateroverthewholecountry,closeditinanegg,andcarrieditaway。Herlap,however,wouldnotholdmorethanhalfofit;andtheinstantshewasgone,whatshehadnotyettakenfledawayunderground,leavingthecountryasdryanddustyasherownheart。Wereitnotforthewatersunderit,everylivingthingwouldlongagohaveperishedfromit。Forwherenowateris,norainfalls;andwherenorainfalls,nospringsrise。Eversincethen,theprincesshaslivedinBulika,holdingtheinhabitantsinconstantterror,anddoingwhatshecantokeepthemfrommultiplying。Yettheyboastandbelievethemselvesaprosperous,andcertainlyareaself—satisfiedpeople——goodatbargainingandbuying,goodatsellingandcheating;holdingwelltogetherforacommoninterest,andutterlytreacherouswhereinterestsclash;proudoftheirprincessandherpower,anddespisingeveryonetheygetthebetterof;neverdoubtingthemselvesthemosthonourableofallthenations,andeachmancountinghimselfbetterthananyother。Thedepthoftheirworthlessnessandheightoftheirvainglorynoonecanunderstandwhohasnotbeentheretosee,whohasnotlearnedtoknowthemiserablemisgovernedandself—deceivedcreatures。"

"Ithankyou,madam。Andnow,ifyouplease,willyoutellmesomethingabouttheLittleOnes——theLovers？Ilongheartilytoservethem。Whoandwhatarethey？andhowdotheycometobethere？

ThosechildrenarethegreatestwonderIhavefoundinthisworldofwonders。"

"InBulikayoumay,perhaps,getsomelightonthosematters。Thereisanancientpoeminthelibraryofthepalace,Iamtold,whichofcoursenoonetherecanread,butinwhichitisplainlywrittenthataftertheLovershavegonethroughgreattroublesandlearnedtheirownname,theywillfilltheland,andmakethegiantstheirslaves。"

"Bythattimetheywillhavegrownalittle,willtheynot？"Isaid。

"Yes,theywillhavegrown;yetIthinktootheywillnothavegrown。

Itispossibletogrowandnottogrow,togrowlessandtogrowbigger,bothatonce——yes,eventogrowbymeansofnotgrowing！"

"Yourwordsarestrange,madam！"Irejoined。"ButIhavehearditsaidthatsomewords,becausetheymeanmore,appeartomeanless！"

"Thatistrue,andsuchwordsHAVEtobeunderstood。ItwerewellfortheprincessofBulikaifsheheardwhattheverysilenceofthelandisshoutinginherearsalldaylong！Butsheisfartooclevertounderstandanything。"

"ThenIsuppose,whenthelittleLoversaregrown,theirlandwillhavewateragain？"

"Notexactlyso:whentheyarethirstyenough,theywillhavewater,andwhentheyhavewater,theywillgrow。Togrow,theymusthavewater。And,beneath,itisflowingstill。"

"Ihaveheardthatwatertwice,"Isaid;"——oncewhenIlaydowntowaitforthemoon——andwhenIwokethesunwasshining！andoncewhenIfell,allbutkilledbythebadgiant。Bothtimescamethevoicesofthewater,andhealedme。"

Thewomanneverturnedherhead,andkeptalwaysalittlebeforeme,butIcouldheareverywordthatleftherlips,andhervoicemuchremindedmeofthewoman\'sinthehouseofdeath。Muchofwhatshesaid,Ididnotunderstand,andthereforecannotremember。ButI

forgotthatIhadeverbeenafraidofher。

Wewentonandon,andcrossedyetawidetractofsandbeforereachingthecottage。Itsfoundationstoodindeepsand,butI

couldseethatitwasarock。Incharacterthecottageresembledthesexton\'s,buthadthickerwalls。Thedoor,whichwasheavyandstrong,openedimmediatelyintoalargebareroom,whichhadtwolittlewindowsoppositeeachother,withoutglass。Myhostesswalkedinattheopendooroutofwhichthemoonhadlooked,andgoingstraighttothefarthestcorner,tookalongwhiteclothfromthefloor,andwounditaboutherheadandface。Thensheclosedtheotherdoor,inatwhichthemoonhadlooked,trimmedasmallhornlanternthatstoodonthehearth,andturnedtoreceiveme。

"Youareverywelcome,Mr。Vane！"shesaid,callingmebythenameIhadforgotten。"Yourentertainmentwillbescanty,but,asthenightisnotfarspent,andthedaynotathand,itisbetteryoushouldbeindoors。Hereyouwillbesafe,andalittlelackisnotagreatmisery。"

"Ithankyouheartily,madam,"Ireplied。"But,seeingyouknowthenameIcouldnottellyou,mayInotnowknowyours？"

"MynameisMara,"sheanswered。

ThenIrememberedthesextonandthelittleblackcat。

"Somepeople,"shewenton,"takemeforLot\'swife,lamentingoverSodom;andsomethinkIamRachel,weepingforherchildren;butI

amneitherofthose。"

"Ithankyouagain,Mara,"Isaid。"——MayIliehereonyourfloortillthemorning？"

"Atthetopofthatstair,"sheanswered,"youwillfindabed——onwhichsomehavesleptbetterthantheyexpected,andsomehavewakedallthenightandsleptallthenextday。Itisnotaverysoftone,butitisbetterthanthesand——andtherearenohyenassniffingaboutit！"

Thestair,narrowandsteep,ledstraightupfromtheroomtoanunceiledandunpartitionedgarret,withonewide,lowdormerwindow。

Closeundertheslopingroofstoodanarrowbed,thesightofwhichwithitswhitecoverletmademeshiver,sovividlyitrecalledthecouchesinthechamberofdeath。Onthetablewasadryloaf,andbesideitacupofcoldwater。Tome,whohadtastednothingbutfruitformonths,theywereafeast。

"Imustleaveyouinthedark,"myhostesscalledfromthebottomofthestair。"ThislanternisallthelightIhave,andtherearethingstodoto—night。"

"Itisofnoconsequence,thankyou,madam,"Ireturned。"Toeatanddrink,toliedownandsleep,arethingsthatcanbedoneinthedark。"

"Restinpeace,"shesaid。

Iateuptheloaf,drankthewatereverydrop,andlaidmyselfdown。

Thebedwashard,thecoveringthinandscanty,andthenightcold:

IdreamedthatIlayinthechamberofdeath,betweenthewarriorandtheladywiththehealingwound。

Iwokeinthemiddleofthenight,thinkingIheardlownoisesofwildanimals。

"Creaturesofthedesertscentingafterme,Isuppose！"Isaidtomyself,and,knowingIwassafe,wouldhavegonetosleepagain。Butthatinstantaroughpurringrosetoahowlundermywindow,andI

sprangfrommybedtoseewhatsortofbeastutteredit。

Beforethedoorofthecottage,inthefullradianceofthemoon,atallwomanstood,clothedinwhite,withherbacktowardme。Shewasstoopingoveralargewhiteanimallikeapanther,pattingandstrokingitwithonehand,whilewiththeothershepointedtothemoonhalf—wayuptheheaven,thendrewaperpendicularlinetothehorizon。Instantlythecreaturedartedoffwithamazingswiftnessinthedirectionindicated。Foramomentmyeyesfollowedit,thensoughtthewoman;butshewasgone,andnotyethadIseenherface！

AgainIlookedaftertheanimal,butwhetherIsaworonlyfanciedawhitespeckinthedistance,Icouldnottell。——Whatdiditmean？

Whatwasthemonster—catsentofftodo？Ishuddered,andwentbacktomybed。ThenIrememberedthat,whenIlaydowninthesandyhollowoutside,themoonwassetting;yethereshewas,afewhoursafter,shininginallherglory！"Everythingisuncertainhere,"

Isaidtomyself,"——eventhemotionsoftheheavenlybodies！"

Ilearnedafterwardthattherewereseveralmoonsintheserviceofthisworld,butthelawsthatruledtheirtimesanddifferentorbitsIfailedtodiscover。

AgainIfellasleep,andsleptundisturbed。

WhenIwentdowninthemorning,Ifoundbreadandwaterwaitingme,theloafsolargethatIateonlyhalfofit。MyhostesssatmuffledbesidemewhileIbrokemyfast,andexcepttogreetmewhenI

entered,neveropenedhermouthuntilIaskedhertoinstructmehowtoarriveatBulika。Shethentoldmetogoupthebankoftheriver—beduntilitdisappeared;thenvergetotherightuntilIcametoaforest——inwhichImightspendanight,butwhichImustleavewithmyfacetotherisingmoon。Keepinginthesamedirection,shesaid,untilIreachedarunningstream,Imustcrossthatatrightangles,andgostraightonuntilIsawthecityonthehorizon。

Ithankedher,andventuredtheremarkthat,lookingoutofthewindowinthenight,Iwasastonishedtoseehermessengerunderstandhersowell,andgosostraightandsofastinthedirectionshehadindicated。

"IfIhadbutthatanimalofyourstoguideme——"Iwenton,hopingtolearnsomethingofitsmission,butsheinterruptedme,saying,"ItwastoBulikashewent——theshortestway。"

"Howwonderfullyintelligentshelooked！"

"Astarteknowsherworkwellenoughtobesenttodoit,"sheanswered。

"Haveyoumanymessengerslikeher？"

"AsmanyasIrequire。"

"Aretheyhardtoteach？"

"Theyneednoteaching。Theyareallofacertainbreed,butnotoneofthebreedislikeanother。Theiroriginissonaturalitwouldseemtoyouincredible。"

"MayInotknowit？"

"Anewonecametomelastnight——fromyourheadwhileyouslept。"

Ilaughed。

"Allinthisworldseemtolovemystery！"Isaidtomyself。"Somechancewordofminesuggestedanidea——andinthisformsheembodiesthesmallfact！"

"Thenthecreatureismine！"Icried。

"Notatall！"sheanswered。"Thatonlycanbeoursinwhoseexistenceourwillisafactor。"

"Ha！ametaphysiciantoo！"Iremarkedinside,andwassilent。

"MayItakewhatisleftoftheloaf？"Iaskedpresently。

"Youwillwantnomoreto—day,"shereplied。

"To—morrowImay！"Irejoined。

Sheroseandwenttothedoor,sayingasshewent,"Ithasnothingtodowithto—morrow——butyoumaytakeitifyouwill。"

Sheopenedthedoor,andstoodholdingit。Irose,takingupthebread——butlingered,muchdesiringtoseeherface。

"MustIgo,then？"Iasked。

"Noonesleepsinmyhousetwonightstogether！"sheanswered。

"Ithankyou,then,foryourhospitality,andbidyoufarewell！"

Isaid,andturnedtogo。

"Thetimewillcomewhenyoumusthousewithmemanydaysandmanynights,"shemurmuredsadlythroughhermuffling。

"Willingly,"Ireplied。

"Nay,NOTwillingly！"sheanswered。

Isaidtomyselfthatshewasright——Iwouldnotwillinglybeherguestasecondtime！butimmediatelymyheartrebukedme,andIhadscarcecrossedthethresholdwhenIturnedagain。

Shestoodinthemiddleoftheroom;herwhitegarmentslaylikefoamywavesatherfeet,andamongthemtheswathingsofherface:

itwaslovelyasanightofstars。Hergreatgrayeyeslookeduptoheaven;tearswereflowingdownherpalecheeks。Sheremindedmenotalittleofthesexton\'swife,althoughtheonelookedasifshehadnotweptforthousandsofyears,andtheotherasifsheweptconstantlybehindthewrappingsofherbeautifulhead。Yetsomethingintheveryeyesthatweptseemedtosay,"Weepingmayendureforanight,butjoycomethinthemorning。"

Ihadbowedmyheadforamoment,abouttokneelandbegherforgiveness,when,lookingupintheact,Ifoundmyselfoutsideadoorlesshouse。Iwentroundandroundit,butcouldfindnoentrance。

Ihadstoppedunderoneofthewindows,onthepointofcallingaloudmyrepentantconfession,whenasuddenwailing,howlingscreaminvadedmyears,andmyheartstoodstill。Somethingsprangfromthewindowabovemyhead,andlightedbeyondme。Iturned,andsawalargegraycat,itshaironend,shootingtowardtheriver—bed。

Ifellwithmyfaceinthesand,andseemedtohearwithinthehousethegentlesobbingofonewhosufferedbutdidnotrepent。

CHAPTERXVI

AGRUESOMEDANCE

Irosetoresumemyjourney,andwalkedmanyadesertmile。HowIlongedforamountain,orevenatallrock,fromwhosesummitI

mightseeacrossthedismalplainorthedried—upchannelstosomeborderinghope！Yetwhatcouldsuchforesighthaveavailedme？

Thatwhichiswithinaman,notthatwhichliesbeyondhisvision,isthemainfactorinwhatisabouttobefallhim:theoperationuponhimistheevent。Foreseeingisnotunderstanding,elsesurelytheprophecylatentinmanwouldcomeoftenertothesurface！

Thesunwashalf—waytothehorizonwhenIsawbeforemearuggedrockyascent;butereIreacheditmydesiretoclimbwasover,andIlongedtoliedown。Bythattimethesunwasalmostset,andtheairhadbeguntogrowdark。Atmyfeetlayacarpetofsoftest,greenestmoss,couchforaking:Ithrewmyselfuponit,andwearinessatoncebegantoebb,for,themomentmyheadwasdown,thethirdtimeIheardbelowmemanywaters,playingbrokenairsandetherealharmonieswiththestonesoftheirburiedchannels。

Loveliestchaosofmusic—stufftheharpaquariankeptsendinguptomyears！WhatmightnotaH鋘delhavedonewiththatever—recurringgurgleandbell—likedrip,totheminglingandmutuallydestructivemelodiestheircommonrefrain！

AsIlaylistening,myeyeswentwanderingupanddowntherockyslopeabruptaboveme,readingonitsfacetherecordthatdownthere,agesago,rushedacataract,fillingthechannelsthathadledmetoitsfoot。Myheartswelledatthethoughtofthesplendidtumult,wherethewavesdancedrevellinginhelplessfall,tomasstheirmusicinoneorgan—roarbelow。Butsoonthehiddenbrookslulledmetosleep,andtheirlullabiesmingledwithmydreams。

Iwokebeforethesun,andeagerlyclimbedtoseewhatlaybeyond。