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╒╨╠╧┴─┼─ 10-═AY-1997 BY: "╟LENN ╨.," <├128╒SER@╟╘╔.╬ET> ***** ╘╚┼ ╟╧╠─┼╬ ╦┼┘ ***** ┴┬╧╒╘ ╘╚┼ ┴╒╘╚╧╥: ═AC─ONALD, ╟EORGE (B.10-─EC-1824, D.18-╙EP-1905) ================================================================== ╙COTTISH NOVELIST AND POET, WRITER OF FANTASIES FOR CHILDREN. ╚E SERVED BRIEFLY AS A ├ONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER, BUT SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE IN ┼NGLAND AS A LECTURER AND WRITER. ┴MONG HIS BEST-KNOWN WORKS FOR CHILDREN IS "╘HE ╟OLDEN ╦EY" (1868); OTHERS INCLUDE "┴T THE ┬ACK OF THE ╬ORTH ╫IND" (1871) AND "╘HE ╨RINCESS AND ├URDIE" (1883). ╚E ALSO WROTE TWO ALLEGORICAL FANTASIES FOR ADULTS: "╨HANTASTES" (1858) AND "╠ILLITH" (1895). ╨RESENTED HERE IS THE TEXT TO "╘HE ╟OLDEN ╦EY" IN THREE SEPARATE FILES. ╬╧╘┼: ┴T ONE POINT IN THIS STORY, REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE STORY OF "╙ILVERHAIR", WHICH TURNS TO BE "╟OLDILOCKS ┴ND ╘HE ╘HREE ┬EARS"; "╙ILVERHAIR" APPARENTLY IS THE NAME BY WHICH THE TALE WAS KNOWN IN ═AC─ONALD'S DAY. ╧THERS MIGHT NOT CARE; BUT ╔ FOUND THIS JARRING, AND HAVE THEREFORE SUBSTITUTED OUR FAMILIAR "╟OLDILOCKS" FOR THE ORIGINAL "╙ILVERHAIR". ╘HIS ┼-╘EXT IS IN THE ╨UBLIC ─OMAIN. * * * * * * * * * * * "╘HE ╟OLDEN ╦EY: ┴ ┬OY ┴ND ┴ ╟IRL ╔N ╘HE ╟ARDEN ╧F ┼DEN", ┬Y: ╟EORGE ═AC─ONALD. ╘┴┬╠┼ OF ├╧╬╘┼╬╘╙: ================= ├HAPTER ╔: ╫HERE ╘HE ╥AINBOW ┼NDS ╨┴╥╘ ╧╬┼ ├HAPTER ╔╔: ╘WO ╥UNAWAYS ├HAPTER ╔╔╔: ╘HE ┴IR-╞ISH & ╟RANDMOTHER ├HAPTER ╔╓: ╘HE ╠ANGUAGE OF ╬ATURE ----------------------------------------- ├HAPTER ╓: ╘HE ┴RRIVAL OF ═OSSY ╨┴╥╘ ╘╫╧ ├HAPTER ╓╔: ┴ ╙EA OF ╙HADOWS ├HAPTER ╓╔╔: ╘HE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA ----------------------------------------- ├HAPTER ╓╔╔╔: ╘HE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ┼ARTH ╨┴╥╘ ╘╚╥┼┼ ├HAPTER ╔╪: ╘HE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╞IRE ├HAPTER ╪: ╞ROM ╫HERE THE ╙HADOWS ╞ALL "╘HE ╟OLDEN ╦EY: ┴ ┬OY ┴ND ┴ ╟IRL ╔N ╘HE ╟ARDEN ╧F ┼DEN", ┬Y: ╟EORGE ═AC─ONALD. [╨┴╥╘ ╧╬┼: ├HAPTERS ╔ ╘HROUGH ╔╓ ╔NCLUSIVE.] ├HAPTER ╔: ╫HERE ╘HE ╥AINBOW ┼NDS 0001: ╘HERE WAS A BOY WHO USED TO SIT IN 0002: THE TWILIGHT AND LISTEN TO HIS 0003: GREAT-AUNT'S STORIES. 0004: ╙HE TOLD HIM THAT IF HE COULD 0005: REACH THE PLACE WHERE THE END OF THE 0006: RAINBOW STANDS HE WOULD FIND THERE A 0007: GOLDEN KEY. 0008: "┴ND WHAT IS THE KEY FOR?" THE BOY 0009: WOULD ASK. "╫HAT IS IT THE KEY OF? ╫HAT 0010: WILL IT OPEN?" 0011: "╘HAT NOBODY KNOWS," HIS AUNT 0012: WOULD REPLY. "╚E HAS TO FIND THAT OUT." 0013: "╔ SUPPOSE, BEING GOLD," THE BOY 0014: ONCE SAID, THOUGHTFULLY, "THAT ╔ COULD 0015: GET A GOOD DEAL OF MONEY FOR IT IF ╔ 0016: SOLD IT." 0017: "┬ETTER NEVER FIND IT THAN SELL 0018: IT," RETURNED HIS AUNT. 0019: ┴ND THEN THE BOY WENT TO BED AND 0020: DREAMED ABOUT THE GOLDEN KEY. 0021: ╬OW ALL THAT HIS GREAT-AUNT TOLD 0022: THE BOY ABOUT THE GOLDEN KEY WOULD HAVE 0023: BEEN NONSENSE, HAD IT NOT BEEN THAT 0024: THEIR LITTLE HOUSE STOOD ON THE BORDERS 0025: OF ╞AIRYLAND. ╞OR IT IS PERFECTLY WELL 0026: KNOWN THAT OUT OF ╞AIRYLAND NOBODY EVER 0027: CAN FIND WHERE THE RAINBOW STANDS. ╘HE 0028: CREATURE TAKES SUCH GOOD CARE OF ITS 0029: GOLDEN KEY, ALWAYS FLITTING FROM PLACE 0030: TO PLACE, LEST ANY ONE SHOULD FIND IT! 0031: ┬UT IN ╞AIRYLAND IT IS QUITE DIFFERENT. 0032: ╘HINGS THAT LOOK REAL IN THIS COUNTRY 0033: OOK VERY THIN INDEED IN ╞AIRYLAND, 0034: WHILE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HERE 0035: CANNOT STAND STILL FOR A MOMENT, WILL 0036: NOT MOVE THERE. ╙O IT WAS NOT IN THE 0037: LEAST ABSURD OF THE OLD LADY TO TELL 0038: HER NEPHEW SUCH THINGS ABOUT THE 0039: GOLDEN KEY. 0040: "─ID YOU EVER KNOW ANYBODY FIND 0041: IT?" HE ASKED, ONE EVENING. 0042: "┘ES. ┘OUR FATHER, ╔ BELIEVE, 0043: FOUND IT." 0044: "┴ND WHAT DID HE DO WITH IT, CAN 0045: YOU TELL ME?" 0046: "╚E NEVER TOLD ME." 0047: "╫HAT WAS IT LIKE?" 0048: "╚E NEVER SHOWED IT TO ME." 0049: "╚OW DOES A NEW KEY COME THERE 0050: ALWAYS?" 0051: "╔ DON'T KNOW. ╘HERE IT IS." 0052: "╨ERHAPS IT IS THE RAINBOW'S EGG!" 0053: "╨ERHAPS IT IS. ┘OU WILL BE A 0054: HAPPY BOY IF YOU FIND THE NEST." 0055: "╨ERHAPS IT COMES TUMBLING DOWN 0056: THE RAINBOW FROM THE SKY." 0057: "╨ERHAPS IT DOES." ├HAPTER ╔╔: ╘WO ╥UNAWAYS 0058: ╧NE EVENING, IN SUMMER, HE WENT 0059: INTO HIS OWN ROOM, AND STOOD AT THE 0060: LATTICE-WINDOW, AND GAZED INTO THE 0061: FOREST WHICH FRINGED THE OUTSKIRTS OF 0062: ╞AIRYLAND. ╔T CAME CLOSE UP TO HIS 0063: GREAT AUNT'S GARDEN, AND, INDEED, SENT 0064: SOME STRAGGLING TREES INTO IT. ╘HE 0065: FOREST LAY TO THE EAST, AND THE SUN, 0066: WHICH WAS SETTING BEHIND THE COTTAGE, 0067: LOOKED STRAIGHT INTO THE DARK WOOD 0068: WITH HIS LEVEL RED EYE. ╘HE TREES WERE 0069: ALL OLD, AND HAD FEW BRANCHES BELOW, SO 0070: THAT THE SUN COULD SEE A GREAT WAY INTO 0071: THE FOREST; AND THE BOY, BEING 0072: KEEN-SIGHTED, COULD SEE ALMOST AS FAR 0073: AS THE SUN. ╘HE TRUNKS STOOD LIKE ROWS 0074: OF RED COLUMNS IN THE SHINE OF THE RED 0075: SUN, AND HE COULD SEE DOWN AISLE AFTER 0076: AISLE IN THE VANISHING DISTANCE. ┴ND AS 0077: HE GAZED INTO THE FOREST HE BEGAN TO 0078: FEEL AS IF THE TREES WERE ALL WAITING 0079: FOR HIM, AND HAD SOMETHING THEY COULD 0080: NOT GO ON WITH TILL HE CAME TO THEM. 0081: ┬UT HE WAS HUNGRY AND WANTED HIS 0082: SUPPER. ╙O HE LINGERED. 0083: ╙UDDENLY, FAR AMONG THE TREES, AS 0084: FAR AS THE SUN COULD SHINE, HE SAW A 0085: GLORIOUS THING. ╔T WAS THE END OF A 0086: RAINBOW, LARGE AND BRILLIANT. ╚E COULD 0087: COUNT ALL SEVEN COLOURS, AND COULD SEE 0088: SHADE AFTER SHADE BEYOND THE VIOLET; 0089: WHILE BEFORE THE RED STOOD A COLOUR 0090: MORE GORGEOUS AND MYSTERIOUS STILL. ╔T 0091: WAS A COLOUR HE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. 0092: ╧NLY THE SPRING OF THE RAINBOW-ARCH WAS 0093: VISIBLE. ╚E COULD SEE NOTHING OF IT 0094: ABOVE THE TREES. 0095: "╘HE GOLDEN KEY!" HE SAID TO 0096: HIMSELF, AND DARTED OUT OF THE HOUSE, 0097: AND INTO THE WOOD. 0098: ╚E HAD NOT GONE FAR BEFORE THE SUN 0099: SET. ┬UT THE RAINBOW ONLY GLOWED THE 0100: BRIGHTER. ╞OR THE RAINBOW OF ╞AIRYLAND 0101: IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON THE SUN AS OURS 0102: IS. ╘HE TREES WELCOMED HIM. ╘HE BUSHES 0103: MADE WAY FOR HIM. ╘HE RAINBOW GREW 0104: LARGER AND BRIGHTER; AND AT LENGTH HE 0105: FOUND HIMSELF WITHIN TWO TREES OF IT. 0106: ╔T WAS A GRAND SIGHT, BURNING AWAY 0107: THERE IN SILENCE, WITH ITS GORGEOUS, 0108: ITS LOVELY, ITS DELICATE COLOURS, EACH 0109: DISTINCT, ALL COMBINING. ╚E COULD NOW 0110: SEE A GREAT DEAL MORE OF IT. ╔T ROSE 0111: HIGH INTO THE BLUE HEAVENS, BUT BENT SO 0112: LITTLE THAT HE COULD NOT TELL HOW HIGH 0113: THE CROWN OF THE ARCH MUST REACH. ╔T 0114: WAS STILL ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF A 0115: HUGE BOW. 0116: ╚E STOOD GAZING AT IT TILL HE 0117: FORGOT HIMSELF WITH DELIGHT -- EVEN 0118: FORGOT THE KEY WHICH HE HAD COME TO 0119: SEEK. ┴ND AS HE STOOD IT GREW MORE 0120: WONDERFUL STILL. ╞OR IN EACH OF THE 0121: COLOURS, WHICH WAS AS LARGE AS THE 0122: COLUMN OF A CHURCH, HE COULD FAINTLY 0123: SEE BEAUTIFUL FORMS SLOWLY ASCENDING AS 0124: IF BY THE STEPS OF A WINDING STAIR. ╘HE 0125: FORMS APPEARED IRREGULARLY -- NOW ONE, 0126: NOW MANY, NOW SEVERAL, NOW NONE -- MEN 0127: AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN -- ALL 0128: DIFFERENT, ALL BEAUTIFUL. 0129: ╚E DREW NEARER TO THE RAINBOW. ╔T 0130: VANISHED. ╚E STARTED BACK A STEP IN 0131: DISMAY. ╔T WAS THERE AGAIN, AS 0132: BEAUTIFUL AS EVER. ╙O HE CONTENTED 0133: HIMSELF WITH STANDING AS NEAR IT AS HE 0134: MIGHT, AND WATCHING THE FORMS THAT 0135: ASCENDED THE GLORIOUS COLOURS TOWARDS 0136: THE UNKNOWN HEIGHT OF THE ARCH, WHICH 0137: DID NOT END ABRUPTLY BUT FADED AWAY IN 0138: THE BLUE AIR, SO GRADUALLY THAT HE 0139: COULD NOT SAY WHERE IT CEASED. 0140: ╫HEN THE THOUGHT OF THE GOLDEN KEY 0141: RETURNED, THE BOY VERY WISELY PROCEEDED 0142: TO MARK OUT IN HIS MIND THE SPACE 0143: COVERED BY THE FOUNDATION OF THE 0144: RAINBOW, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT KNOW 0145: WHERE TO SEARCH, SHOULD THE RAINBOW 0146: DISAPPEAR. ╔T WAS BASED CHIEFLY UPON A 0147: BED OF MOSS. 0148: ═EANTIME IT HAD GROWN QUITE DARK 0149: IN THE WOOD. ╘HE RAINBOW ALONE WAS 0150: VISIBLE BY ITS OWN LIGHT. ┬UT THE 0151: MOMENT THE MOON ROSE THE RAINBOW 0152: VANISHED. ╬OR COULD ANY CHANGE OF PLACE 0153: RESTORE THE VISION TO THE BOY'S EYES. 0154: ╙O HE THREW HIMSELF DOWN UPON THE MOSSY 0155: BED, TO WAIT TILL THE SUNLIGHT WOULD 0156: GIVE HIM A CHANCE OF FINDING THE KEY. 0157: ╘HERE HE FELL FAST ASLEEP. 0158: ╫HEN HE WOKE IN THE MORNING THE 0159: SUN WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT INTO HIS EYES. 0160: ╚E TURNED AWAY FROM IT, AND THE SAME 0161: MOMENT SAW A BRILLIANT LITTLE THING 0162: LYING ON THE MOSS WITHIN A FOOT OF HIS 0163: FACE. ╔T WAS THE GOLDEN KEY. ╘HE PIPE 0164: OF IT WAS OF PLAIN GOLD, AS BRIGHT AS 0165: GOLD COULD BE. ╘HE HANDLE WAS CURIOUSLY 0166: WROUGHT AND SET WITH SAPPHIRES. ╔N A 0167: TERROR OF DELIGHT HE PUT OUT HIS HAND 0168: AND TOOK IT, AND HAD IT. 0169: ╚E LAY FOR A WHILE, TURNING IT 0170: OVER AND OVER, AND FEEDING HIS EYES 0171: UPON ITS BEAUTY. ╘HEN HE JUMPED TO HIS 0172: FEET, REMEMBERING THAT THE PRETTY THING 0173: WAS OF NO USE TO HIM YET. ╫HERE WAS THE 0174: LOCK TO WHICH THE KEY BELONGED? ╔T MUST 0175: BE SOMEWHERE, FOR HOW COULD ANYBODY BE 0176: SO SILLY AS MAKE A KEY FOR WHICH THERE 0177: WAS NO LOCK? ╫HERE SHOULD HE GO TO LOOK 0178: FOR IT? ╚E GAZED ABOUT HIM, UP INTO THE 0179: AIR, DOWN TO THE EARTH, BUT SAW NO 0180: KEYHOLE IN THE CLOUDS, IN THE GRASS, OR 0181: IN THE TREES. 0182: ╩UST AS HE BEGAN TO GROW 0183: DISCONSOLATE, HOWEVER, HE SAW SOMETHING 0184: GLIMMERING IN THE WOOD. ╔T WAS A MERE 0185: GLIMMER THAT HE SAW, BUT HE TOOK IT FOR 0186: A GLIMMER OF RAINBOW, AND WENT TOWARDS 0187: IT. ┴ND NOW ╔ WILL GO BACK TO THE 0188: BORDERS OF THE FOREST. 0189: ╬OT FAR FROM THE HOUSE WHERE THE 0190: BOY HAD LIVED, THERE WAS ANOTHER HOUSE, 0191: THE OWNER OF WHICH WAS A MERCHANT, WHO 0192: WAS MUCH AWAY FROM HOME. ╚E HAD LOST 0193: HIS WIFE SOME YEARS BEFORE, AND HAD 0194: ONLY ONE CHILD, A LITTLE GIRL, WHOM HE 0195: LEFT TO THE CHARGE OF TWO SERVANTS, WHO 0196: WERE VERY IDLE AND CARELESS. ╙O SHE WAS 0197: NEGLECTED AND LEFT UNTIDY, AND WAS 0198: SOMETIMES ILL-USED BESIDES. 0199: ╬OW IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE 0200: LITTLE CREATURES COMMONLY CALLED 0201: FAIRIES, THOUGH THERE ARE MANY 0202: DIFFERENT KINDS OF FAIRIES IN 0203: ╞AIRYLAND, HAVE AN EXCEEDING DISLIKE TO 0204: UNTIDINESS. ╔NDEED, THEY ARE QUITE 0205: SPITEFUL TO SLOVENLY PEOPLE. ┬EING USED 0206: TO ALL THE LOVELY WAYS OF THE TREES AND 0207: FLOWERS, AND TO THE NEATNESS OF THE 0208: BIRDS AND ALL WOODLAND CREATURES, IT 0209: MAKES THEM FEEL MISERABLE, EVEN IN 0210: THEIR DEEP WOODS AND ON THEIR GRASSY 0211: CARPETS, TO THINK THAT WITHIN THE SAME 0212: MOONLIGHT LIES A DIRTY, UNCOMFORTABLE, 0213: SLOVENLY HOUSE. ┴ND THIS MAKES THEM 0214: ANGRY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN IT, 0215: AND THEY WOULD GLADLY DRIVE THEM OUT OF 0216: THE WORLD IF THEY COULD. ╘HEY WANT THE 0217: WHOLE EARTH NICE AND CLEAN. ╙O THEY 0218: PINCH THE MAIDS BLACK AND BLUE, AND 0219: PLAY THEM ALL MANNER OF UNCOMFORTABLE 0220: TRICKS. 0221: ┬UT THIS HOUSE WAS QUITE A SHAME, 0222: AND THE FAIRIES IN THE FOREST COULD NOT 0223: ENDURE IT. ╘HEY TRIED EVERYTHING ON THE 0224: MAIDS WITHOUT EFFECT, AND AT LAST 0225: RESOLVED UPON MAKING A CLEAN RIDDANCE, 0226: BEGINNING WITH THE CHILD. ╘HEY OUGHT TO 0227: HAVE KNOWN THAT IT WAS NOT HER FAULT, 0228: BUT THEY HAVE LITTLE PRINCIPLE AND MUCH 0229: MISCHIEF IN THEM, AND THEY THOUGHT THAT 0230: IF THEY GOT RID OF HER THE MAIDS WOULD 0231: BE SURE TO BE TURNED AWAY. 0232: ╙O ONE EVENING, THE POOR LITTLE 0233: GIRL HAVING BEEN PUT TO BED EARLY, 0234: BEFORE THE SUN WAS DOWN, THE SERVANTS 0235: WENT OFF TO THE VILLAGE, LOCKING THE 0236: DOOR BEHIND THEM. ╘HE CHILD DID NOT 0237: KNOW SHE WAS ALONE, AND LAY CONTENTEDLY 0238: LOOKING OUT OF HER WINDOW TOWARDS THE 0239: FOREST, OF WHICH, HOWEVER, SHE COULD 0240: NOT SEE MUCH, BECAUSE OF THE IVY AND 0241: OTHER CREEPING PLANTS WHICH HAD 0242: STRAGGLED ACROSS HER WINDOW. ┴LL AT 0243: ONCE SHE SAW AN APE MAKING FACES AT HER 0244: OUT OF THE MIRROR, AND THE HEADS CARVED 0245: UPON A GREAT OLD WARDROBE GRINNING 0246: FEARFULLY. ╘HEN TWO OLD SPIDER-LEGGED 0247: CHAIRS CAME FORWARD INTO THE MIDDLE OF 0248: THE ROOM, AND BEGAN TO DANCE A QUEER, 0249: OLD-FASHIONED DANCE. ╘HIS SET HER 0250: LAUGHING, AND SHE FORGOT THE 0251: APE AND THE GRINNING HEADS. ╙O THE 0252: FAIRIES SAW THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE, 0253: AND SENT THE CHAIRS BACK TO THEIR 0254: PLACES. ┬UT THEY KNEW THAT SHE HAD BEEN 0255: READING THE STORY OF ╟OLDILOCKS ALL 0256: DAY. ╙O THE NEXT MOMENT SHE HEARD THE 0257: VOICES OF THE THREE BEARS UPON THE 0258: STAIR, BIG VOICE, MIDDLE VOICE, AND 0259: LITTLE VOICE, AND SHE HEARD THEIR SOFT, 0260: HEAVY TREAD, AS IF THEY HAD HAD 0261: STOCKINGS OVER THEIR BOOTS, COMING 0262: NEARER AND NEARER TO THE DOOR OF HER 0263: ROOM, TILL SHE COULD BEAR IT NO LONGER. 0264: ╙HE DID JUST AS ╟OLDILOCKS DID, AND AS 0265: THE FAIRIES WANTED HER TO DO: SHE 0266: DARTED TO THE WINDOW, PULLED IT OPEN, 0267: GOT UPON THE IVY, AND SO SCRAMBLED TO 0268: THE GROUND. ╙HE THEN FLED TO THE FOREST 0269: AS FAST AS SHE COULD RUN. 0270: ╬OW, ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT KNOW IT, 0271: THIS WAS THE VERY BEST WAY SHE COULD 0272: HAVE GONE; FOR NOTHING IS EVER SO 0273: MISCHIEVOUS IN ITS OWN PLACE AS IT IS 0274: OUT OF IT; AND, BESIDES, THESE 0275: MISCHIEVOUS CREATURES WERE ONLY THE 0276: CHILDREN OF ╞AIRYLAND, AS IT WERE, AND 0277: THERE ARE MANY OTHER BEINGS THERE AS 0278: WELL; AND IF A WANDERER GETS IN AMONG 0279: THEM, THE GOOD ONES WILL ALWAYS HELP 0280: HIM MORE THAN THE EVIL ONES WILL BE 0281: ABLE TO HURT HIM. ├HAPTER ╔╔╔: ╘HE ┴IR-╞ISH & ╟RANDMOTHER 0282: ╘HE SUN WAS NOW SET, AND THE 0283: DARKNESS COMING ON, BUT THE CHILD 0284: THOUGHT OF NO DANGER BUT THE BEARS 0285: BEHIND HER. ╔F SHE HAD LOOKED ROUND, 0286: HOWEVER, SHE WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT SHE 0287: WAS FOLLOWED BY A VERY DIFFERENT 0288: CREATURE FROM A BEAR. ╔T WAS A CURIOUS 0289: CREATURE, MADE LIKE A FISH, BUT 0290: COVERED, INSTEAD OF SCALES, WITH 0291: FEATHERS OF ALL COLOURS, SPARKLING 0292: LIKE THOSE OF A HUMMING BIRD. ╔T HAD 0293: FINS, NOT WINGS, AND SWAM THROUGH THE 0294: AIR AS A FISH DOES THROUGH THE WATER. 0295: ╔TS HEAD WAS LIKE THE HEAD OF A SMALL 0296: OWL. 0297: ┴FTER RUNNING A LONG WAY, AND AS 0298: THE LAST OF THE LIGHT WAS DISAPPEARING, 0299: SHE PASSED UNDER A TREE WITH DROOPING 0300: BRANCHES. ╔T DROPPED ITS BRANCHES TO 0301: THE GROUND ALL ABOUT HER, AND CAUGHT 0302: HER AS IN A TRAP. ╙HE STRUGGLED TO GET 0303: OUT, BUT THE BRANCHES PRESSED HER 0304: CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE TRUNK. ╙HE WAS 0305: IN GREAT TERROR AND DISTRESS, WHEN THE 0306: AIR-FISH, SWIMMING INTO THE THICKET OF 0307: BRANCHES, BEGAN TEARING THEM WITH ITS 0308: BEAK. ╘HEY LOOSENED THEIR HOLD AT ONCE, 0309: AND THE CREATURE WENT ON ATTACKING 0310: THEM, TILL AT LENGTH THEY LET THE CHILD 0311: GO. ╘HEN THE AIR-FISH CAME FROM BEHIND 0312: HER, AND SWAM ON IN FRONT, GLITTERING 0313: AND SPARKLING ALL LOVELY COLOURS; AND 0314: SHE FOLLOWED. 0315: ╔T LED HER GENTLY ALONG TILL ALL 0316: AT ONCE IT SWAM IN AT A COTTAGE DOOR. 0317: ╘HE CHILD FOLLOWED STILL. ╘HERE WAS A 0318: BRIGHT FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR, 0319: UPON WHICH STOOD A POT WITHOUT A LID, 0320: FULL OF WATER THAT BOILED AND BUBBLED 0321: FURIOUSLY. ╘HE AIR-FISH SWAM STRAIGHT 0322: TO THE POT AND INTO THE BOILING WATER, 0323: WHERE IT LAY QUIET. ┴ BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 0324: ROSE FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FIRE 0325: AND CAME TO MEET THE GIRL. ╙HE TOOK HER 0326: UP IN HER ARMS, AND SAID, 0327: "┴H, YOU ARE COME AT LAST! ╔ HAVE 0328: BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU A LONG TIME." 0329: ╙HE SAT DOWN WITH HER ON HER LAP, 0330: AND THERE THE GIRL SAT STARING AT HER. 0331: ╙HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYONE SO BEAUTIFUL. 0332: ╙HE WAS TALL AND STRONG, WITH WHITE 0333: ARMS AND NECK, AND A DELICATE FLUSH ON 0334: HER FACE. ╘HE CHILD COULD NOT TELL WHAT 0335: WAS THE COLOUR OF HER HAIR, BUT COULD 0336: NOT HELP THINKING IT HAD A TINGE OF 0337: DARK GREEN. ╙HE HAD NOT ONE ORNAMENT 0338: UPON HER, BUT SHE LOOKED AS IF SHE HAD 0339: JUST PUT OFF QUANTITIES OF DIAMONDS AND 0340: EMERALDS. ┘ET HERE SHE WAS IN THE 0341: SIMPLEST, POOREST LITTLE COTTAGE, WHERE 0342: SHE WAS EVIDENTLY AT HOME. ╙HE WAS 0343: DRESSED IN SHINING GREEN. 0344: ╘HE GIRL LOOKED AT THE LADY, AND 0345: THE LADY LOOKED AT THE GIRL. 0346: "╫HAT IS YOUR NAME?" ASKED THE 0347: LADY. 0348: "╘HE SERVANTS ALWAYS CALLED ME 0349: ╘ANGLE." 0350: "┴H, THAT WAS BECAUSE YOUR HAIR 0351: WAS SO UNTIDY. ┬UT THAT WAS THEIR 0352: FAULT, THE NAUGHTY WOMEN! ╙TILL IT IS A 0353: PRETTY NAME, AND ╔ WILL CALL YOU ╘ANGLE 0354: TOO. ┘OU MUST NOT MIND MY ASKING YOU 0355: QUESTIONS, FOR YOU MAY ASK ME THE SAME 0356: QUESTIONS, EVERY ONE OF THEM, AND ANY 0357: OTHERS THAT YOU LIKE. ╚OW OLD ARE YOU?" 0358: "╘EN," ANSWERED ╘ANGLE. 0359: "┘OU DON'T LOOK LIKE IT," SAID THE 0360: LADY. 0361: "╚OW OLD ARE YOU, PLEASE?" 0362: RETURNED ╘ANGLE. 0363: "╘HOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD," ANSWERED 0364: THE LADY. 0365: "┘OU DON'T LOOK LIKE IT," SAID 0366: ╘ANGLE. 0367: "─ON'T ╔? ╔ THINK ╔ DO. ─ON'T YOU 0368: SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL ╔ AM!" 0369: ┴ND HER GREAT BLUE EYES LOOKED 0370: DOWN ON LITTLE ╘ANGLE, AS IF ALL THE 0371: STARS IN THE SKY WERE MELTED IN THEM TO 0372: MAKE THEIR BRIGHTNESS. 0373: "┴H! BUT," SAID ╘ANGLE, "WHEN 0374: PEOPLE LIVE LONG THEY GROW OLD. ┴T 0375: LEAST ╔ ALWAYS THOUGHT SO." 0376: "╔ HAVE NOT TIME TO GROW OLD," 0377: SAID THE LADY. "╔ AM TOO BUSY FOR THAT. 0378: ╔T IS VERY IDLE TO GROW OLD. ┬UT ╔ 0379: CANNOT HAVE MY LITTLE GIRL SO UNTIDY. 0380: ─O YOU KNOW ╔ CAN'T FIND A CLEAN SPOT 0381: ON YOUR FACE TO KISS!" 0382: "╨ERHAPS," SUGGESTED ╘ANGLE, 0383: FEELING ASHAMED, BUT NOT TOO MUCH SO TO 0384: SAY A WORD FOR HERSELF, "PERHAPS THAT 0385: IS BECAUSE THE TREE MADE ME CRY SO." 0386: "═Y POOR DARLING!" SAID THE LADY, 0387: LOOKING NOW AS IF THE MOON WERE MELTED 0388: IN HER EYES, AND KISSING HER LITTLE 0389: FACE, DIRTY AS IT WAS, "THE NAUGHTY 0390: TREE MUST SUFFER FOR MAKING A GIRL 0391: CRY." 0392: "┴ND WHAT IS YOUR NAME, PLEASE?" 0393: ASKED ╘ANGLE. 0394: "╟RANDMOTHER," ANSWERED THE LADY. 0395: "╔S IT REALLY?" 0396: "┘ES, INDEED. ╔ NEVER TELL STORIES, 0397: EVEN IN FUN." 0398: "╚OW GOOD OF YOU!" 0399: "╔ COULDN'T IF ╔ TRIED. ╔T WOULD 0400: COME TRUE IF ╔ SAID IT, AND THEN ╔ 0401: SHOULD BE PUNISHED ENOUGH." ┴ND SHE 0402: SMILED LIKE THE SUN THROUGH A 0403: SUMMER-SHOWER. 0404: "┬UT NOW," SHE WENT ON, "╔ MUST 0405: GET YOU WASHED AND DRESSED, AND THEN WE 0406: SHALL HAVE SOME SUPPER." 0407: "╧H! ╔ HAD SUPPER LONG AGO," SAID 0408: ╘ANGLE. 0409: "┘ES, INDEED YOU HAD," ANSWERED 0410: THE LADY, "THREE YEARS AGO. ┘OU DON'T 0411: KNOW THAT IT IS THREE YEARS SINCE YOU 0412: RAN AWAY FROM THE BEARS. ┘OU ARE 0413: THIRTEEN AND MORE NOW." 0414: ╘ANGLE COULD ONLY STARE. ╙HE FELT 0415: QUITE SURE IT WAS TRUE. 0416: "┘OU WILL NOT BE AFRAID OF 0417: ANYTHING ╔ DO WITH YOU -- WILL YOU?" 0418: SAID THE LADY. 0419: "╔ WILL TRY VERY HARD NOT TO BE; 0420: BUT ╔ CAN'T BE CERTAIN, YOU KNOW," 0421: REPLIED ╘ANGLE. 0422: "╔ LIKE YOUR SAYING SO, AND ╔ 0423: SHALL BE QUITE SATISFIED," ANSWERED THE 0424: LADY. 0425: ╙HE TOOK OFF THE GIRL'S 0426: NIGHT-GOWN, ROSE WITH HER IN HER ARMS, 0427: AND GOING TO THE WALL OF THE COTTAGE, 0428: OPENED A DOOR. ╘HEN ╘ANGLE SAW A DEEP 0429: TANK, THE SIDES OF WHICH WERE FILLED 0430: WITH GREEN PLANTS, WHICH HAD FLOWERS OF 0431: ALL COLOURS. ╘HERE WAS A ROOF OVER IT 0432: LIKE THE ROOF OF THE COTTAGE. ╔T WAS 0433: FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL CLEAR WATER, IN 0434: WHICH SWAM A MULTITUDE OF SUCH FISHES 0435: AS THE ONE THAT HAD LED HER TO THE 0436: COTTAGE. ╔T WAS THE LIGHT THEIR COLOURS 0437: GAVE THAT SHOWED THE PLACE IN WHICH 0438: THEY WERE. 0439: ╘HE LADY SPOKE SOME WORDS ╘ANGLE 0440: COULD NOT UNDERSTAND, AND THREW HER 0441: INTO THE TANK. 0442: ╘HE FISHES CAME CROWDING ABOUT 0443: HER. ╘WO OR THREE OF THEM GOT UNDER HER 0444: HEAD AND KEPT IT UP. ╘HE REST OF THEM 0445: RUBBED THEMSELVES ALL OVER HER, AND 0446: WITH THEIR WET FEATHERS WASHED HER 0447: QUITE CLEAN. ╘HEN THE LADY, WHO HAD 0448: BEEN LOOKING ON ALL THE TIME, SPOKE 0449: AGAIN; WHEREUPON SOME THIRTY OR FORTY 0450: OF THE FISHES ROSE OUT OF THE WATER 0451: UNDERNEATH ╘ANGLE, AND SO BORE HER UP 0452: TO THE ARMS THE LADY HELD OUT TO TAKE 0453: HER. ╙HE CARRIED HER BACK TO THE FIRE, 0454: AND, HAVING DRIED HER WELL, OPENED A 0455: CHEST, AND TAKING OUT THE FINEST LINEN 0456: GARMENTS, SMELLING OF GRASS AND 0457: LAVENDER, PUT THEM UPON HER, AND OVER 0458: ALL A GREEN DRESS, JUST LIKE HER OWN, 0459: SHINING LIKE HERS, AND SOFT LIKE HERS, 0460: AND GOING INTO JUST SUCH LOVELY FOLDS 0461: FROM THE WAIST, WHERE IT WAS TIED WITH 0462: A BROWN CORD, TO HER BARE FEET. 0463: "╫ON'T YOU GIVE ME A PAIR OF SHOES 0464: TOO, GRANDMOTHER?" SAID ╘ANGLE. 0465: "╬O, MY DEAR; NO SHOES. ╠OOK HERE. 0466: ╔ WEAR NO SHOES." 0467: ╙O SAYING SHE LIFTED HER DRESS A 0468: LITTLE, AND THERE WERE THE LOVELIEST 0469: WHITE FEET, BUT NO SHOES. ╘HEN ╘ANGLE 0470: WAS CONTENT TO GO WITHOUT SHOES TOO. 0471: ┴ND THE LADY SAT DOWN WITH HER AGAIN, 0472: AND COMBED HER HAIR, AND BRUSHED IT, 0473: AND THEN LEFT IT TO DRY WHILE SHE GOT 0474: THE SUPPER. ├HAPTER ╔╓: ╘HE ╠ANGUAGE OF ╬ATURE 0475: ╞IRST SHE GOT BREAD OUT OF ONE 0476: HOLE IN THE WALL; THEN MILK OUT OF 0477: ANOTHER; THEN SEVERAL KINDS OF FRUIT 0478: OUT A THIRD; AND THEN SHE WENT TO THE 0479: POT ON THE FIRE, AND TOOK OUT THE FISH, 0480: NOW NICELY COOKED, AND, AS SOON AS SHE 0481: HAD PULLED OFF ITS FEATHERED SKIN, 0482: READY TO BE EATEN. 0483: "┬UT--!" EXCLAIMED ╘ANGLE. ┴ND SHE 0484: STARED AT THE FISH, AND COULD SAY NO 0485: MORE. 0486: "╔ KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN," RETURNED 0487: THE LADY. "┘OU DO NOT LIKE TO EAT THE 0488: MESSENGER THAT BROUGHT YOU HOME. ┬UT IT 0489: IS THE KINDEST RETURN YOU CAN MAKE. ╘HE 0490: CREATURE WAS AFRAID TO GO UNTIL IT SAW 0491: ME PUT THE POT ON, AND HEARD ME PROMISE 0492: IT SHOULD BE BOILED THE MOMENT IT 0493: RETURNED WITH YOU. ╘HEN IT DARTED OUT 0494: OF THE DOOR AT ONCE. ┘OU SAW IT GO INTO 0495: THE POT OF ITSELF THE MOMENT IT 0496: ENTERED, DID YOU NOT?" 0497: "╔ DID," ANSWERED ╘ANGLE, "AND ╔ 0498: THOUGHT IT VERY STRANGE; BUT THEN ╔ SAW 0499: YOU, AND FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE FISH." 0500: "╔N ╞AIRYLAND," RESUMED THE LADY, 0501: AS THEY SAT DOWN TO THE TABLE, "THE 0502: AMBITION OF THE ANIMALS IS TO BE EATEN 0503: BY THE PEOPLE; FOR THAT IS THEIR 0504: HIGHEST END IN THAT CONDITION. ┬UT THEY 0505: ARE NOT THEREFORE DESTROYED. ╧UT OF 0506: THAT POT COMES SOMETHING MORE THAN THE 0507: DEAD FISH, YOU WILL SEE." 0508: ╘ANGLE NOW REMARKED THAT THE LID 0509: WAS ON THE POT. ┬UT THE LADY TOOK NO 0510: FURTHER NOTICE OF IT TILL THEY HAD 0511: EATEN THE FISH, WHICH ╘ANGLE FOUND 0512: NICER THAN ANY FISH SHE HAD EVER TASTED 0513: BEFORE. ╔T WAS AS WHITE AS SNOW, AND AS 0514: DELICATE AS CREAM. ┴ND THE MOMENT SHE 0515: HAD SWALLOWED A MOUTHFUL OF IT, A 0516: CHANGE SHE COULD NOT DESCRIBE BEGAN TO 0517: TAKE PLACE IN HER. ╙HE HEARD A 0518: MURMURING ALL ABOUT HER, WHICH BECAME 0519: MORE AND MORE ARTICULATE, AND AT 0520: LENGTH, AS SHE WENT ON EATING, GREW 0521: INTELLIGIBLE. ┬Y THE TIME SHE HAD 0522: FINISHED HER SHARE, THE SOUNDS OF ALL 0523: THE ANIMALS IN THE FOREST CAME CROWDING 0524: THROUGH THE DOOR TO HER EARS; FOR THE 0525: DOOR STILL STOOD WIDE OPEN, THOUGH IT 0526: WAS PITCH DARK OUTSIDE; AND THEY WERE 0527: NO LONGER SOUNDS ONLY; THEY WERE 0528: SPEECH, AND SPEECH THAT SHE COULD 0529: UNDERSTAND. ╙HE COULD TELL WHAT THE 0530: INSECTS IN THE COTTAGE WERE SAYING TO 0531: EACH OTHER TOO. ╙HE HAD EVEN A 0532: SUSPICION THAT THE TREES AND FLOWERS 0533: ALL ABOUT THE COTTAGE WERE HOLDING 0534: MIDNIGHT COMMUNICATIONS WITH EACH 0535: OTHER; BUT WHAT THEY SAID SHE COULD NOT 0536: HEAR. 0537: ┴S SOON AS THE FISH WAS EATEN, THE 0538: LADY WENT TO THE FIRE AND TOOK THE LID 0539: OFF THE POT. ┴ LOVELY LITTLE CREATURE 0540: IN HUMAN SHAPE, WITH LARGE WHITE WINGS, 0541: ROSE OUT OF IT, AND FLEW ROUND AND 0542: ROUND THE ROOF OF THE COTTAGE; THEN 0543: DROPPED, FLUTTERING, AND NESTLED IN THE 0544: LAP OF THE LADY. ╙HE SPOKE TO IT SOME 0545: STRANGE WORDS, CARRIED IT TO THE DOOR, 0546: AND THREW IT OUT INTO THE DARKNESS. 0547: ╘ANGLE HEARD THE FLAPPING OF ITS WINGS 0548: DIE AWAY IN THE DISTANCE. 0549: "╬OW HAVE WE DONE THE FISH ANY 0550: HARM?" SHE SAID, RETURNING. 0551: "╬O," ANSWERED ╘ANGLE, "╔ DO NOT 0552: THINK WE HAVE. ╔ SHOULD NOT MIND EATING 0553: ONE EVERY DAY." 0554: "╘HEY MUST WAIT THEIR TIME, LIKE 0555: YOU AND ME TOO, MY LITTLE ╘ANGLE." 0556: ┴ND SHE SMILED A SMILE WHICH THE 0557: SADNESS IN IT MADE MORE LOVELY. 0558: "┬UT," SHE CONTINUED, "╔ THINK WE 0559: MAY HAVE ONE FOR SUPPER TO-MORROW. 0560: ╙O SAYING SHE WENT TO THE DOOR OF 0561: THE TANK, AND SPOKE; AND NOW ╘ANGLE 0562: UNDERSTOOD HER PERFECTLY. 0563: "╔ WANT ONE OF YOU." SHE SAID, 0564: "THE WISEST." 0565: ╘HEREUPON THE FISHES GOT TOGETHER 0566: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TANK, WITH THEIR 0567: HEADS FORMING A CIRCLE ABOVE THE WATER, 0568: AND THEIR TAILS A LARGER CIRCLE BENEATH 0569: IT. ╘HEY WERE HOLDING A COUNCIL, IN 0570: WHICH THEIR RELATIVE WISDOM SHOULD BE 0571: DETERMINED. ┴T LENGTH ONE OF THEM FLEW 0572: UP INTO THE LADY'S HAND, LOOKING LIVELY 0573: AND READY. 0574: "┘OU KNOW WHERE THE RAINBOW 0575: STANDS?" SHE ASKED. 0576: "┘ES, MOTHER, QUITE WELL," 0577: ANSWERED THE FISH. 0578: "┬RING HOME A YOUNG MAN YOU WILL 0579: FIND THERE, WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHERE TO 0580: GO." 0581: ╘HE FISH WAS OUT OF THE DOOR IN A 0582: MOMENT. ╘HEN THE LADY TOLD ╘ANGLE IT 0583: WAS TIME TO GO TO BED; AND, OPENING 0584: ANOTHER DOOR IN THE SIDE OF THE 0585: COTTAGE, SHOWED HER A LITTLE ARBOUR, 0586: COOL AND GREEN, WITH A BED OF PURPLE 0587: HEATH GROWING IN IT, UPON WHICH SHE 0588: THREW A LARGE WRAPPER MADE OF THE 0589: FEATHERED SKINS OF THE WISE FISHES, 0590: SHINING GORGEOUS IN THE FIRELIGHT. 0591: ╘ANGLE WAS SOON LOST IN THE STRANGEST, 0592: LOVELIEST DREAMS. ┴ND THE BEAUTIFUL 0593: LADY WAS IN EVERY ONE OF HER DREAMS. >>>>> ┼ND OF ╨ART ╧NE -- ├ONTINUED IN ╨ART ╘WO <<<<<