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>>>>> ├ONTINUED FROM ╨ART ╧NE <<<<< "╘HE ╟OLDEN ╦EY: ┴ ┬OY ┴ND ┴ ╟IRL ╔N ╘HE ╟ARDEN ╧F ┼DEN", ┬Y: ╟EORGE ═AC─ONALD. [╨┴╥╘ ╘╫╧: ├HAPTERS ╓ ╘HROUGH ╓╔╔ ╔NCLUSIVE.] ├HAPTER ╓: ╘HE ┴RRIVAL OF ═OSSY 0594: ╔N THE MORNING SHE WOKE TO THE 0595: RUSTLING OF LEAVES OVER HER HEAD, AND 0596: THE SOUND OF RUNNING WATER. ┬UT, TO HER 0597: SURPRISE, SHE COULD FIND NO DOOR -- 0598: NOTHING BUT THE MOSS-GROWN WALL OF THE 0599: COTTAGE. ╙O SHE CREPT THROUGH AN 0600: OPENING IN THE ARBOUR, AND STOOD IN THE 0601: FOREST. ╘HEN SHE BATHED IN A STREAM 0602: THAT RAN MERRILY THROUGH THE TREES, AND 0603: FELT HAPPIER; FOR HAVING ONCE BEEN IN 0604: HER GRANDMOTHER'S POND, SHE MUST BE 0605: CLEAN AND TIDY EVER AFTER; AND, HAVING 0606: PUT ON HER GREEN DRESS, FELT LIKE A 0607: LADY. 0608: ╙HE SPENT THAT DAY IN THE WOOD, 0609: LISTENING TO THE BIRDS AND BEASTS AND 0610: CREEPING THINGS. ╙HE UNDERSTOOD ALL 0611: THAT THEY SAID, THOUGH SHE COULD NOT 0612: REPEAT A WORD OF IT; AND EVERY KIND HAD 0613: A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, WHILE THERE WAS A 0614: COMMON THOUGH MORE LIMITED 0615: UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ALL THE 0616: INHABITANTS OF THE FOREST. ╙HE SAW 0617: NOTHING OF THE BEAUTIFUL LADY, BUT SHE 0618: FELT THAT SHE WAS NEAR HER ALL THE 0619: TIME; AND SHE TOOK CARE NOT TO GO OUT 0620: OF SIGHT OF THE COTTAGE. ╔T WAS ROUND, 0621: LIKE A SNOW-HUT OR A WIG-WAM; AND SHE 0622: COULD SEE NEITHER DOOR NOR WINDOW IN 0623: IT. ╘HE FACT WAS, IT HAD NO WINDOWS; 0624: AND THOUGH IT WAS FULL OF DOORS, THEY 0625: ALL OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, AND COULD 0626: NOT EVEN BE SEEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. 0627: ╙HE WAS STANDING AT THE FOOT OF A 0628: TREE IN THE TWILIGHT, LISTENING TO A 0629: QUARREL BETWEEN A MOLE AND A SQUIRREL, 0630: IN WHICH THE MOLE TOLD THE SQUIRREL 0631: THAT THE TAIL WAS THE BEST OF HIM, AND 0632: THE SQUIRREL CALLED THE MOLE 0633: ╙PADE-FISTS, WHEN, THE DARKNESS HAVING 0634: DEEPENED AROUND HER, SHE BECAME AWARE 0635: OF SOMETHING SHINING IN HER FACE, AND 0636: LOOKING ROUND, SAW THAT THE DOOR OF THE 0637: COTTAGE WAS OPEN, AND THE RED LIGHT OF 0638: THE FIRE FLOWING FROM IT LIKE A RIVER 0639: THROUGH THE DARKNESS. ╙HE LEFT ═OLE AND 0640: ╙QUIRREL TO SETTLE MATTERS AS THEY 0641: MIGHT, AND DARTED OFF TO THE COTTAGE. 0642: ┼NTERING, SHE FOUND THE POT BOILING ON 0643: THE FIRE, AND THE GRAND, LOVELY LADY 0644: SITTING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT. 0645: "╔'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU ALL DAY," 0646: SAID THE LADY. "┘OU SHALL HAVE 0647: SOMETHING TO EAT BY-AND-BY, BUT WE MUST 0648: WAIT TILL OUR SUPPER COMES HOME." 0649: ╙HE TOOK ╘ANGLE ON HER KNEE, AND 0650: BEGAN TO SING TO HER -- SUCH SONGS AS 0651: MADE HER WISH SHE COULD LISTEN TO THEM 0652: FOR EVER. ┬UT AT LENGTH IN RUSHED THE 0653: SHINING FISH, AND SNUGGLED DOWN IN THE 0654: POT. ╔T WAS FOLLOWED BY A YOUTH WHO HAD 0655: OUTGROWN HIS WORN GARMENTS. ╚IS FACE 0656: WAS RUDDY WITH HEALTH, AND IN HIS HAND 0657: HE CARRIED A LITTLE JEWEL, WHICH 0658: SPARKLED IN THE FIRELIGHT. ╘HE FIRST 0659: WORDS THE LADY SAID WERE -- 0660: "╫HAT IS THAT IN YOUR HAND, ═OSSY?" 0661: ╬OW ═OSSY WAS THE NAME HIS 0662: COMPANIONS HAD GIVEN HIM, BECAUSE HE 0663: HAD A FAVOURITE STONE COVERED WITH 0664: MOSS, ON WHICH HE USED TO SIT WHOLE 0665: DAYS READING; AND THEY SAID THE MOSS 0666: HAD BEGUN TO GROW UPON HIM TOO. 0667: ═OSSY HELD OUT HIS HAND. ╘HE 0668: MOMENT THE LADY SAW THAT IT WAS THE 0669: GOLDEN KEY, SHE ROSE FROM HER CHAIR, 0670: KISSED ═OSSY ON THE FOREHEAD, MADE HIM 0671: SIT DOWN ON HER SEAT, AND STOOD BEFORE 0672: HIM LIKE A SERVANT. ═OSSY COULD NOT 0673: BEAR THIS, AND ROSE AT ONCE. ┬UT THE 0674: LADY BEGGED HIM, WITH TEARS IN HER 0675: BEAUTIFUL EYES, TO SIT, AND LET HER 0676: WAIT ON HIM. 0677: "┬UT YOU ARE A GREAT, SPLENDID, 0678: BEAUTIFUL LADY," SAID ═OSSY. 0679: "┘ES, ╔ AM. ┬UT ╔ WORK ALL DAY 0680: LONG -- THAT IS MY PLEASURE; AND YOU 0681: WILL HAVE TO LEAVE ME SO SOON!" 0682: "╚OW DO YOU KNOW THAT, IF YOU 0683: PLEASE, MADAM?" ASKED ═OSSY. 0684: "┬ECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT THE GOLDEN 0685: KEY." 0686: "┬UT ╔ DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS FOR. 0687: ╔ CAN'T FIND THE KEY-HOLE. ╫ILL YOU 0688: TELL ME WHAT TO DO?" 0689: "┘OU MUST LOOK FOR THE KEY-HOLE. 0690: ╘HAT IS YOUR WORK. ╔ CANNOT HELP YOU. ╔ 0691: CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT IF YOU LOOK FOR 0692: IT YOU WILL FIND IT." 0693: "╫HAT KIND OF BOX WILL IT OPEN? 0694: ╫HAT IS THERE INSIDE?" 0695: "╔ DO NOT KNOW. ╔ DREAM ABOUT IT, 0696: BUT ╔ KNOW NOTHING." 0697: "═UST ╔ GO AT ONCE?" 0698: "┘OU MAY STOP HERE TO-NIGHT, AND 0699: HAVE SOME OF MY SUPPER. ┬UT YOU MUST GO 0700: IN THE MORNING. ┴LL ╔ CAN DO FOR YOU IS 0701: TO GIVE YOU CLOTHES. ╚ERE IS A GIRL 0702: CALLED ╘ANGLE, WHOM YOU MUST TAKE WITH 0703: YOU." 0704: "╘HAT WILL BE NICE," SAID ═OSSY. 0705: "╬O, NO!" SAID ╘ANGLE. "╔ DON'T 0706: WANT TO LEAVE YOU, PLEASE, 0707: GRANDMOTHER." 0708: "┘OU MUST GO WITH HIM, ╘ANGLE. ╔ 0709: AM SORRY TO LOSE YOU, BUT IT WILL THE 0710: BEST THING FOR YOU. ┼VEN THE FISHES, 0711: YOU SEE, HAVE TO GO INTO THE POT, AND 0712: THEN OUT INTO THE DARK. ╔F YOU FALL IN 0713: WITH THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA, MIND YOU 0714: ASK HIM WHETHER HE HAS NOT GOT SOME 0715: MORE FISHES READY FOR ME. ═Y TANK IS 0716: GETTING THIN." 0717: ╙O SAYING, SHE TOOK THE FISH FROM 0718: THE POT, AND PUT THE LID ON AS BEFORE. 0719: ╘HEY SAT DOWN AND ATE THE FISH, AND 0720: THEN THE WINGED CREATURE ROSE FROM THE 0721: POT, CIRCLED THE ROOF, AND SETTLED ON 0722: THE LADY'S LAP. ╙HE TALKED TO IT, 0723: CARRIED IT TO THE DOOR, AND THREW IT 0724: OUT INTO THE DARK. ╘HEY HEARD THE FLAP 0725: OF ITS WINGS DIE AWAY IN THE DISTANCE. 0726: ╘HE LADY THEN SHOWED ═OSSY INTO 0727: JUST SUCH ANOTHER CHAMBER AS THAT OF 0728: ╘ANGLE; AND IN THE MORNING HE FOUND A 0729: SUIT OF CLOTHES LAID BESIDE HIM. ╚E 0730: LOOKED VERY HANDSOME IN THEM. ┬UT THE 0731: WEARER OF ╟RANDMOTHER'S CLOTHES NEVER 0732: THINKS ABOUT HOW HE OR SHE LOOKS, BUT 0733: THINKS ALWAYS HOW HANDSOME OTHER 0734: PEOPLE ARE. 0735: ╘ANGLE WAS VERY UNWILLING TO GO. 0736: "╫HY SHOULD ╔ LEAVE YOU? ╔ DON'T 0737: KNOW THE YOUNG MAN," SHE SAID TO THE 0738: LADY. 0739: "╔ AM NEVER ALLOWED TO KEEP MY 0740: CHILDREN LONG. ┘OU NEED NOT GO WITH HIM 0741: EXCEPT YOU PLEASE, BUT YOU MUST GO SOME 0742: DAY; AND ╔ SHOULD LIKE YOU TO GO WITH 0743: HIM, FOR HE HAS THE GOLDEN KEY. ╬O GIRL 0744: NEED BE AFRAID TO GO WITH A YOUTH THAT 0745: HAS THE GOLDEN KEY. ┘OU WILL TAKE CARE 0746: OF HER, ═OSSY, WILL YOU NOT?" 0747: "╘HAT ╔ WILL," SAID ═OSSY. 0748: ┴ND ╘ANGLE CAST A GLANCE AT HIM, 0749: AND THOUGHT SHE SHOULD LIKE TO GO WITH 0750: HIM. 0751: "┴ND," SAID THE LADY, "╔F YOU 0752: SHOULD LOSE EACH OTHER AS YOU GO 0753: THROUGH THE -- THE -- ╔ NEVER CAN 0754: REMEMBER THE NAME OF THAT COUNTRY -- DO 0755: NOT BE AFRAID, BUT GO ON AND ON." 0756: ╙HE KISSED ╘ANGLE ON THE MOUTH AND 0757: ═OSSY ON THE FOREHEAD, LED THEM TO THE 0758: DOOR, AND WAVED HER HAND EASTWARD. 0759: ═OSSY AND ╘ANGLE TOOK EACH OTHER'S HAND 0760: AND WALKED AWAY INTO THE DEPTH OF THE 0761: FOREST. ╔N HIS RIGHT HAND ═OSSY HELD 0762: THE GOLDEN KEY. ├HAPTER ╓╔: ┴ ╙EA OF ╙HADOWS 0763: ╘HEY WANDERED THUS A LONG WAY, 0764: WITH ENDLESS AMUSEMENT FROM THE TALK 0765: OF THE ANIMALS. ╘HEY SOON LEARNED 0766: ENOUGH OF THEIR LANGUAGE TO ASK THEM 0767: NECESSARY QUESTIONS. ╘HE SQUIRRELS 0768: WERE ALWAYS FRIENDLY, AND GAVE THEM 0769: NUTS OUT OF THEIR OWN HOARDS; BUT 0770: THE BEES WERE SELFISH AND RUDE, 0771: JUSTIFYING THEMSELVES ON THE GROUND 0772: THAT ╘ANGLE AND ═OSSY WERE NOT 0773: SUBJECTS OF THEIR QUEEN, AND CHARITY 0774: MUST BEGIN AT HOME, THOUGH INDEED 0775: THEY HAD NOT ONE DRONE IN THEIR 0776: POORHOUSE AT THE TIME. ┼VEN THE 0777: BLINKING MOLES WOULD FETCH THEM AN 0778: EARTH-NUT OR A TRUFFLE NOW AND THEN, 0779: TALKING AS IF THEIR MOUTHS, AS WELL 0780: AS THEIR EYES AND EARS, WERE FULL 0781: OF COTTON WOOL, OR THEIR OWN VELVETY 0782: FUR. ┬Y THE TIME THEY GOT OUT OF THE 0783: FOREST THEY WERE VERY FOND OF EACH 0784: OTHER, AND ╘ANGLE WAS NOT IN THE 0785: LEAST SORRY THAT HER GRANDMOTHER 0786: HAD SENT HER AWAY WITH ═OSSY. 0787: ┴T LENGTH THE TREES GREW SMALLER, 0788: AND STOOD FARTHER APART, AND THE GROUND 0789: BEGAN TO RISE, AND IT GOT MORE AND MORE 0790: STEEP, TILL THE TREES WERE ALL LEFT 0791: BEHIND, AND THE TWO WERE CLIMBING A 0792: NARROW PATH WITH ROCKS ON EACH SIDE. 0793: ╙UDDENLY THEY CAME UPON A RUDE DOORWAY, 0794: BY WHICH THEY ENTERED A NARROW GALLERY 0795: CUT IN THE ROCK. ╔T GREW DARKER AND 0796: DARKER, TILL IT WAS PITCH DARK, AND 0797: THEY HAD TO FEEL THEIR WAY. ┴T LENGTH 0798: THE LIGHT BEGAN TO RETURN, AND AT LAST 0799: THEY CAME OUT UPON A NARROW PATH ON THE 0800: FACE OF A LOFTY PRECIPICE. ╘HIS PATH 0801: WENT WINDING DOWN THE ROCK TO A WIDE 0802: PLAIN, CIRCULAR IN SHAPE, AND 0803: SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY MOUNTAINS. 0804: ╘HOSE OPPOSITE TO THEM WERE A GREAT 0805: WAY OFF, AND TOWERED TO AN AWFUL 0806: HEIGHT, SHOOTING UP SHARP, BLUE, 0807: ICE-ENAMELED PINNACLES. ┴N UTTER 0808: SILENCE REIGNED WHERE THEY STOOD. ╬OT 0809: EVEN THE SOUND OF WATER REACHED THEM. 0810: ╠OOKING DOWN, THEY COULD NOT TELL 0811: WHETHER THE VALLEY BELOW WAS A GRASSY 0812: PLAIN OR A GREAT STILL LAKE. ╘HEY HAD 0813: NEVER SEEN ANY PLACE LOOK LIKE IT. ╘HE 0814: WAY TO IT WAS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS, 0815: BUT DOWN THE NARROW PATH THEY WENT, AND 0816: REACHED THE BOTTOM IN SAFETY. ╘HEY 0817: FOUND IT COMPOSED OF SMOOTH, 0818: LIGHT-COLOURED SANDSTONE, UNDULATING 0819: IN PARTS, BUT MOSTLY LEVEL. ╔T WAS NO 0820: WONDER TO THEM NOW THAT THEY HAD NOT 0821: BEEN ABLE TO TELL WHAT IT WAS, FOR THIS 0822: SURFACE WAS EVERYWHERECROWDED WITH 0823: SHADOWS. ╔T WAS A SEA OF SHADOWS. ╘HE 0824: MASS WAS CHIEFLY MADE UP OF THE SHADOWS 0825: OF LEAVES INNUMERABLE, OF ALL LOVELY 0826: AND IMAGINATIVE FORMS, WAVING TO AND 0827: FRO, FLOATING AND QUIVERING IN THE 0828: BREATH OF A BREEZE WHOSE MOTION WAS 0829: UNFELT, WHOSE SOUND WAS UNHEARD. ╬O 0830: FORESTS CLOTHED THE MOUNTAIN-SIDES, NO 0831: TREES WERE ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN, AND YET 0832: THE SHADOWS OF THE LEAVES, BRANCHES, 0833: AND STEMS OF ALL VARIOUS TREES COVERED 0834: THE VALLEY AS FAR AS THEIR EYES COULD 0835: REACH. 0836: ╘HEY SOON SPIED THE SHADOWS OF 0837: FLOWERS MINGLED WITH THOSE OF THE 0838: LEAVES, AND NOW AND THEN THE SHADOW 0839: OF A BIRD WITH OPEN BEAK, AND THROAT 0840: DISTENDED WITH SONG. ┴T TIMES WOULD 0841: APPEAR THE FORMS OF STRANGE, GRACEFUL 0842: CREATURES, RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE 0843: SHADOW-BOLES AND ALONG THE BRANCHES, 0844: TO DISAPPEAR IN THE WIND-TOSSED 0845: FOLIAGE. ┴S THEY WALKED THEY WADED 0846: KNEE-DEEP IN THE LOVELY LAKE. ╞OR 0847: THE SHADOWS WERE NOT MERELY LYING 0848: ON THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND, BUT 0849: HEAPED UP ABOVE IT LIKE SUBSTANTIAL 0850: FORMS OF DARKNESS, AS IF THEY HAD 0851: BEEN CAST UPON A THOUSAND DIFFERENT 0852: PLANES OF THE AIR. ╘ANGLE AND ═OSSY 0853: OFTEN LIFTED THEIR HEADS AND GAZED 0854: UPWARDS TO DESCRY WHENCE THE SHADOWS 0855: CAME; BUT THEY COULD SEE NOTHING 0856: MORE THAN A BRIGHT MIST SPREAD ABOVE 0857: THEM, HIGHER THAN THE TOPS OF THE 0858: MOUNTAINS, WHICH STOOD CLEAR AGAINST 0859: IT. ╬O FORESTS, NO LEAVES, NO BIRDS 0860: WERE VISIBLE. 0861: ┴FTER A WHILE, THEY REACHED MORE 0862: OPEN SPACES, WHERE THE SHADOWS WERE 0863: THINNER; AND CAME EVEN TO PORTIONS 0864: OVER WHICH SHADOWS ONLY FLITTED, 0865: LEAVING THEM CLEAR FOR SUCH AS MIGHT 0866: FOLLOW. ╬OW A WONDERFUL FORM, HALF 0867: BIRD-LIKE HALF HUMAN, WOULD FLOAT 0868: ACROSS ON OUTSPREAD SAILING PINIONS. 0869: ┴NON AN EXQUISITE SHADOW GROUP OF 0870: GAMBOLING CHILDREN WOULD BE FOLLOWED 0871: BY THE LOVELIEST FEMALE FORM, AND THAT 0872: AGAIN BY THE GRAND STRIDE OF A ╘ITANIC 0873: SHAPE, EACH DISAPPEARING IN THE 0874: SURROUNDING PRESS OF SHADOWY FOLIAGE. 0875: ╙OMETIMES A PROFILE OF UNSPEAKABLE 0876: BEAUTY OR GRANDEUR WOULD APPEAR FOR 0877: A MOMENT AND VANISH. ╙OMETIMES THEY 0878: SEEMED LOVERS THAT PASSED LINKED ARM 0879: IN ARM, SOMETIMES FATHER AND SON, 0880: SOMETIMES BROTHERS IN LOVING CONTEST, 0881: SOMETIMES SISTERS ENTWINED IN 0882: GRACEFULLEST COMMUNITY OF COMPLEX 0883: FORM. ╙OMETIMES WILD HORSES WOULD 0884: TEAR ACROSS, FREE, OR BESTRODE 0885: BY NOBLE SHADOWS OF RULING MEN. ┬UT 0886: SOME OF THE THINGS WHICH PLEASED THEM 0887: MOST THEY NEVER KNEW HOW TO DESCRIBE. 0888: ┴BOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE PLAIN 0889: THEY SAT DOWN TO REST IN THE HEART OF 0890: A HEAP OF SHADOWS. ┴FTER SITTING FOR A 0891: WHILE, EACH, LOOKING UP, SAW THE OTHER 0892: IN TEARS: THEY WERE EACH LONGING AFTER 0893: THE COUNTRY WHENCE THE SHADOWS FELL. 0894: "╫E MUST FIND THE COUNTRY FROM 0895: WHICH THE SHADOWS COME," SAID ═OSSY. 0896: "╫E MUST, DEAR ═OSSY," RESPONDED 0897: ╘ANGLE. "╫HAT IF YOUR GOLDEN KEY 0898: SHOULD BE THE KEY TO IT?" 0899: "┴H! ╘HAT WOULD BE GRAND," 0900: RETURNED ═OSSY. "┬UT WE MUST REST HERE 0901: FOR A LITTLE, AND THEN WE SHALL BE 0902: ABLE TO CROSS THE PLAIN BEFORE NIGHT." 0903: ╙O HE LAY DOWN ON THE GROUND, AND 0904: ABOUT HIM ON EVERY SIDE, AND OVER HIS 0905: HEAD, WAS THE CONSTANT PLAY OF THE 0906: WONDERFUL SHADOWS. ╚E COULD LOOK 0907: THROUGH THEM, AND SEE THE ONE BEHIND 0908: THE OTHER, TILL THEY MIXED IN A MASS 0909: OF DARKNESS. ╘ANGLE, TOO, LAY ADMIRING, 0910: AND WONDERING, AND LONGING AFTER THE 0911: COUNTRY WHENCE THE SHADOWS CAME. ├HAPTER ╓╔╔: ╘HE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA 0912: ╫HEN THEY WERE RESTED THEY ROSE 0913: AND PURSUED THEIR JOURNEY. ╚OW LONG 0914: THEY WERE IN CROSSING THIS PLAIN ╔ 0915: CANNOT TELL; BUT BEFORE NIGHT ═OSSY'S 0916: HAIR WAS STREAKED WITH GREY, AND 0917: ╘ANGLE HAD GOT WRINKLES ON HER 0918: FOREHEAD. 0919: ┴S EVENING DREW ON, THE SHADOWS 0920: FELL DEEPER AND ROSE HIGHER. ┴T LENGTH 0921: THEY REACHED A PLACE WHERE THEY ROSE 0922: ABOVE THEIR HEADS, AND MADE ALL DARK 0923: AROUND THEM. ╘HEN THEY TOOK HOLD OF 0924: EACH OTHER'S HAND, AND WALKED ON IN 0925: SILENCE AND IN SOME DISMAY. ╘HEY FELT 0926: THE GATHERING DARKNESS, AND SOMETHING 0927: STRANGELY SOLEMN BESIDES, AND THE 0928: BEAUTY OF THE SHADOWS CEASED TO 0929: DELIGHT THEM. ┴LL AT ONCE ╘ANGLE 0930: FOUND THAT SHE HAD NOT A HOLD OF 0931: ═OSSY'S HAND, THOUGH WHEN SHE LOST 0932: IT SHE COULD NOT TELL. 0933: "═OSSY, ═OSSY!" SHE CRIED ALOUD 0934: IN TERROR. 0935: ┬UT NO ═OSSY REPLIED. ┴ MOMENT 0936: AFTER, THE SHADOWS SANK TO HER FEET, 0937: AND DOWN UNDER HER FEET, AND THE 0938: MOUNTAINS ROSE BEFORE HER. ╙HE TURNED 0939: TOWARDS THE GLOOMY REGION SHE HAD LEFT, 0940: AND CALLED ONCE MORE UPON ═OSSY. ╘HERE 0941: THE GLOOM LAY TOSSING AND HEAVING, A 0942: DARK STORMY, FOAMLESS SEA OF SHADOWS, 0943: BUT NO ═OSSY ROSE OUT OF IT, OR CAME 0944: CLIMBING UP THE HILL ON WHICH SHE 0945: STOOD. ╙HE THREW HERSELF DOWN AND 0946: WEPT IN DESPAIR. 0947: ╙UDDENLY SHE REMEMBERED THAT THE 0948: BEAUTIFUL LADY HAD TOLD THEM, IF THEY 0949: LOST EACH OTHER IN A COUNTRY OF WHICH 0950: SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER THE NAME, THEY 0951: WERE NOT TO BE AFRAID, BUT TO GO 0952: STRAIGHT ON. 0953: "┴ND BESIDES," SHE SAID TO 0954: HERSELF, "═OSSY HAS THE GOLDEN KEY, 0955: AND SO NO HARM WILL COME TO HIM, ╔ DO 0956: BELIEVE." 0957: ╙HE ROSE FROM THE GROUND, AND 0958: WENT ON. ┬EFORE LONG SHE ARRIVED AT A 0959: PRECIPICE, IN THE FACE OF WHICH A STAIR 0960: WAS CUT. ╫HEN SHE HAD ASCENDED HALFWAY, 0961: THE STAIR CEASED, AND THE PATH LED 0962: STRAIGHT INTO THE MOUNTAIN. ╙HE WAS 0963: AFRAID TO ENTER, AND TURNING AGAIN 0964: TOWARDS THE STAIR, GREW GIDDY AT SIGHT 0965: OF THE DEPTH BENEATH HER, AND WAS 0966: FORCED TO THROW HERSELF DOWN IN THE 0967: MOUTH OF THE CAVE. 0968: ╫HEN SHE OPENED HER EYES, SHE SAW 0969: A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CREATURE WITH WINGS 0970: STANDING BESIDE HER, WAITING. 0971: "╔ KNOW YOU," SAID ╘ANGLE. "┘OU 0972: ARE MY FISH." 0973: "┘ES. ┬UT ╔ AM A FISH NO LONGER. ╔ 0974: AM AN AERANTH NOW." 0975: "╫HAT IS THAT?" ASKED ╘ANGLE. 0976: "╫HAT YOU SEE ╔ AM," ANSWERED THE 0977: SHAPE. "┴ND ╔ AM COME TO LEAD YOU 0978: THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN." 0979: "╧H! ╘HANK YOU, DEAR FISH -- 0980: AERANTH, ╔ MEAN," RETURNED ╘ANGLE, 0981: RISING. 0982: ╘HEREUPON THE AERANTH TOOK TO HIS 0983: WINGS, AND FLEW ON THROUGH THE LONG, 0984: NARROW PASSAGE, REMINDING ╘ANGLE VERY 0985: MUCH OF THE WAY HE HAD SWUM ON BEFORE 0986: HER WHEN HE WAS A FISH. ┴ND THE MOMENT 0987: HIS WHITE WINGS MOVED, THEY BEGAN TO 0988: THROW OFF A CONTINUOUS SHOWER OF 0989: SPARKS OF ALL COLOURS, WHICH LIGHTED 0990: UP THE PASSAGE BEFORE THEM. ┴LL AT 0991: ONCE HE VANISHED, AND ╘ANGLE HEARD 0992: A LOW, SWEET SOUND, QUITE DIFFERENT 0993: FROM THE RUSH AND CRACKLE OF HIS 0994: WINGS. ┬EFORE HER WAS AN OPEN ARCH, 0995: AND THROUGH IT CAME LIGHT, MIXED WITH 0996: THE SOUND OF SEA-WAVES. 0997: ╙HE HURRIED OUT, AND FELL, TIRED 0998: AND HAPPY, UPON THE YELLOW SAND OF THE 0999: SHORE. ╘HERE SHE LAY, HALF ASLEEP WITH 1000: WEARINESS AND REST, LISTENING TO THE 1001: LOW PLASH AND RETREAT OF THE TINY 1002: WAVES, WHICH SEEMED EVER ENTICING 1003: THE LAND TO LEAVE OFF BEING LAND, 1004: AND BECOME SEA. ┴ND AS SHE LAY, HER 1005: EYES WERE FIXED UPON THE FOOT OF A 1006: GREAT RAINBOW STANDING FAR AWAY 1007: AGAINST THE SKY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 1008: THE SEA. ┴T LENGTH SHE FELL FAST 1009: ASLEEP. 1010: ╫HEN SHE AWOKE, SHE SAW AN OLD 1011: MAN WITH LONG WHITE HAIR DOWN TO HIS 1012: SHOULDERS, LEANING UPON A STICK 1013: COVERED WITH GREEN BUDS, AND SO 1014: BENDING OVER HER. 1015: "╫HAT DO YOU WANT HERE, BEAUTIFUL 1016: WOMAN?" HE SAID. 1017: "┴M ╔ BEAUTIFUL? ╔ AM SO GLAD!" 1018: ANSWERED ╘ANGLE, RISING. "═Y 1019: GRANDMOTHER IS BEAUTIFUL." 1020: "┘ES. ┬UT WHAT DO YOU WANT?" HE 1021: REPEATED, KINDLY. 1022: "╔ THINK ╔ WANT YOU. ┴RE NOT YOU 1023: THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA?" 1024: "╔ AM." 1025: "╘HEN GRANDMOTHER SAYS, HAVE YOU 1026: ANY MORE FISHES READY FOR HER?" 1027: "╫E WILL GO AND SEE, MY DEAR," 1028: ANSWERED THE OLD MAN, SPEAKING YET 1029: MORE KINDLY THAN BEFORE. "┴ND ╔ CAN 1030: DO SOMETHING FOR YOU, CAN ╔ NOT?" 1031: "┘ES -- SHOW ME THE WAY UP TO 1032: THE COUNTRY FROM WHICH THE SHADOWS 1033: FALL," SAID ╘ANGLE. ╞OR THERE SHE 1034: HOPED TO FIND ═OSSY AGAIN. 1035: "┴H! INDEED, THAT WOULD BE 1036: WORTH DOING," SAID THE OLD MAN. 1037: "┬UT ╔ CANNOT, FOR ╔ DO NOT KNOW 1038: THE WAY MYSELF. ┬UT ╔ WILL SEND YOU 1039: TO THE 1040: ╧LD ═AN OF THE ┼ARTH. ╨ERHAPS HE CAN 1041: TELL YOU. ╚E IS MUCH OLDER THAN ╔ AM." 1042: ╠EANING ON HIS STAFF, HE CONDUCTED 1043: HER ALONG THE SHORE TO A STEEP ROCK, 1044: THAT LOOKED LIKE A PETRIFIED SHIP 1045: TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. ╘HE DOOR OF IT WAS 1046: THE RUDDER OF A GREAT VESSEL, AGES AGO 1047: AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. ╔MMEDIATELY 1048: WITHIN THE DOOR WAS A STAIR IN THE 1049: ROCK, DOWN WHICH THE OLD MAN WENT, 1050: AND ╘ANGLE FOLLOWED. ┴T THE BOTTOM, 1051: THE OLD MAN HAD HIS HOUSE, AND THERE 1052: HE LIVED. 1053: ┴S SOON AS SHE ENTERED IT, 1054: ╘ANGLE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE, UNLIKE 1055: ANYTHING SHE HAD EVER HEARD BEFORE. 1056: ╙HE SOON FOUND THAT IT WAS THE FISHES 1057: TALKING. ╙HE TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT 1058: THEY SAID; BUT THEIR SPEECH WAS SO 1059: OLD-FASHIONED, AND RUDE, AND 1060: UNDEFINED, THAT SHE COULD NOT MAKE 1061: MUCH OF IT. 1062: "╔ WILL GO AND SEE ABOUT THOSE 1063: FISHES FOR MY DAUGHTER," SAID THE ╧LD 1064: ═AN OF THE ╙EA. ┴ND MOVING A SLIDE 1065: IN THE WALL OF HIS HOUSE, HE FIRST 1066: LOOKED OUT, AND THEN TAPPED UPON A 1067: THICK PIECE OF CRYSTAL THAT FILLED 1068: THE ROUND OPENING. ╘ANGLE CAME UP 1069: BEHIND HIM, AND PEEPING THROUGH THE 1070: WINDOW INTO THE HEART OF THE GREAT 1071: DEEP GREEN OCEAN, SAW THE MOST CURIOUS 1072: CREATURES, SOME VERY UGLY, ALL VERY 1073: ODD, AND WITH ESPECIALLY QUEER MOUTHS, 1074: SWIMMING ABOUT EVERYWHERE, ABOVE AND 1075: BELOW, BUT ALL COMING TOWARDS THE 1076: WINDOW IN ANSWER TO THE TAP OF THE 1077: ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA. ╧NLY A FEW COULD 1078: GET THEIR MOUTHS AGAINST THE GLASS; 1079: BUT THOSE WHO WERE FLOATING MILES 1080: AWAY YET TURNED THEIR HEADS TOWARDS 1081: IT. ╘HE ╧LD ═AN LOOKED THROUGH THE 1082: WHOLE FLOCK CAREFULLY FOR SOME 1083: MINUTES, AND THEN TURNING TO ╘ANGLE, 1084: SAID, 1085: "╔ AM SORRY ╔ HAVE NOT GOT ONE 1086: READY YET. ╔ WANT MORE TIME THAN SHE 1087: DOES. ┬UT ╔ WILL SEND SOME AS SOON AS 1088: ╔ CAN." 1089: ╚E THEN SHUT THE SLIDE. ╨RESENTLY 1090: A GREAT NOISE AROSE IN THE SEA. ╘HE 1091: OLD MAN OPENED THE SLIDE AGAIN, AND 1092: TAPPED ON THE GLASS, WHEREUPON THE 1093: FISHES WERE ALL AS STILL AS SLEEP. 1094: "╘HEY WERE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 1095: YOU," HE SAID. "┴ND THEY DO SPEAK SUCH 1096: NONSENSE! -- ╘O-MORROW," HE CONTINUED, 1097: "╔ MUST SHOW YOU THE WAY TO THE ╧LD 1098: ═AN OF THE ┼ARTH. ╚E LIVES A LONG WAY 1099: FROM HERE." 1100: "─O LET ME GO AT ONCE," SAID 1101: ╘ANGLE. 1102: "╬O. ╘HAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. ┘OU 1103: MUST COME THIS WAY FIRST." 1104: ╚E LED HER TO A HOLE IN THE WALL, 1105: WHICH SHE HAD NOT OBSERVED BEFORE. ╔T 1106: WAS COVERED WITH THE GREEN LEAVES AND 1107: WHITE BLOSSOMS OF A CREEPING PLANT. 1108: "╧NLY WHITE-BLOSSOMING PLANTS 1109: CAN GROW UNDER THE SEA," SAID THE OLD 1110: MAN. "╔N THERE YOU WILL FIND A BATH, 1111: IN WHICH YOU MUST LIE TILL ╔ CALL YOU." 1112: ╘ANGLE WENT IN, AND FOUND A 1113: SMALLER ROOM OR CAVE, IN THE FURTHER 1114: CORNER OF WHICH WAS A GREAT BASIN 1115: HOLLOWED OUT OF A ROCK, AND HALF 1116: FULL OF THE CLEAREST SEA-WATER. 1117: ╠ITTLE STREAMS WERE CONSTANTLY 1118: RUNNING INTO IT FROM CRACKS IN THE 1119: WALL OF THE CAVERN. ╔T WAS POLISHED 1120: QUITE SMOOTH INSIDE, AND HAD A CARPET 1121: OF YELLOW SAND IN THE BOTTOM OF IT. 1122: ╠ARGE GREEN LEAVES AND WHITE FLOWERS 1123: OF VARIOUS PLANTS CROWDED UP AND 1124: OVER IT, DRAPING AND COVERING IT 1125: ALMOST ENTIRELY. ╬O SOONER WAS SHE 1126: UNDRESSED AND LYING IN THE BATH, 1127: THAN SHE BEGAN TO FEEL AS IF THE WATER 1128: WERE SINKING INTO HER, AND SHE WAS 1129: RECEIVING ALL THE GOOD OF SLEEP 1130: WITHOUT UNDERGOING ITS FORGETFULNESS. 1131: ╙HE FELT THE GOOD COMING ALL THE TIME. 1132: ┴ND SHE GREW HAPPIER AND MORE HOPEFUL 1133: THAN SHE HAD BEEN SINCE SHE LOST ═OSSY. 1134: ┬UT SHE COULD NOT HELP THINKING HOW 1135: VERY SAD IT WAS FOR A POOR OLD MAN TO 1136: LIVE THERE ALL ALONE, AND HAVE TO TAKE 1137: CARE OF A WHOLE SEAFUL OF STUPID AND 1138: RIOTOUS FISHES. 1139: ┴FTER ABOUT AN HOUR, AS SHE 1140: THOUGHT, SHE HEARD HIS VOICE CALLING 1141: HER, AND ROSE OUT OF THE BATH. ┴LL 1142: THE FATIGUE AND ACHING OF HER LONG 1143: JOURNEY HAD VANISHED. ╙HE WAS AS 1144: WHOLE, AND STRONG, AND WELL AS IF 1145: SHE HAD SLEPT FOR SEVEN DAYS. 1146: ╥ETURNING TO THE OPENING THAT LED 1147: INTO THE OTHER PART OF THE HOUSE, 1148: SHE STARTED BACK WITH AMAZEMENT, FOR 1149: THROUGH IT SHE SAW THE FORM OF A 1150: GRAND MAN, WITH A MAJESTIC AND 1151: BEAUTIFUL FACE, WAITING FOR HER. 1152: "├OME," HE SAID; "╔ SEE YOU 1153: ARE READY." 1154: ╙HE ENTERED WITH REVERENCE. 1155: "╫HERE IS THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA?" 1156: SHE ASKED, HUMBLY. 1157: "╘HERE IS NO ONE HERE BUT ME," 1158: HE ANSWERED, SMILING. "╙OME PEOPLE 1159: CALL ME THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA. 1160: ╧THERS HAVE ANOTHER NAME FOR ME, AND 1161: ARE TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED WHEN THEY 1162: MEET ME TAKING A WALK BY THE SHORE. 1163: ╘HEREFORE ╔ AVOID BEING SEEN BY THEM, 1164: FOR THEY ARE SO AFRAID, THAT THEY NEVER 1165: SEE WHAT ╔ REALLY AM. ┘OU SEE ME NOW. 1166: ┬UT ╔ MUST SHOW YOU THE WAY TO THE ╧LD 1167: ═AN OF THE ┼ARTH." 1168: ╚E LED HER INTO THE CAVE WHERE THE 1169: BATH WAS, AND THERE SHE SAW, IN THE 1170: OPPOSITE CORNER, A SECOND OPENING IN 1171: THE ROCK. "╟O DOWN THAT STAIR, AND IT 1172: WILL BRING YOU TO HIM," SAID THE ╧LD 1173: ═AN OF THE ╙EA. 1174: ╫ITH HUMBLE THANKS ╘ANGLE TOOK 1175: HER LEAVE. >>>>> ┼ND OF ╨ART ╘WO -- ├ONCLUDED IN ╨ART ╘HREE <<<<<