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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 <<<<<
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