Oh, it will be morning
by and by and the sun will shine on my wet leaves; and that made
me glad till I trembled with happiness. Then suddenly the
lightning would come, so bright, and I would tremble with fear,
and wish that it would be dark again. That was when you looked
at me sitting in the shadow, and I could not take my eyes away
quickly and could not meet yours, so that I trembled with fear."
"And now there is no fear--no shadow; now you are perfectly
happy?"
"Oh, so happy! If the way back to the wood was longer, ten
times, and if the great mountains, white with snow on their tops,
were between, and the great dark forest, and rivers wider than
Orinoco, still I would go alone without fear, because you would
come after me, to join me in the wood, to be with me at last and
always."
"But I should not let you go alone, Rima--your lonely days are
over now."
She opened her eyes wider and looked earnestly into my face. "I
must go back alone, Abel," she said. "Before day comes I must
leave you. Rest here, with grandfather, for a few days and
nights, then follow me."
I heard her with astonishment.
Pages:
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327