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dropped helplessly at her side。
V。
Far up in the glen； about a mile from Kvaerk； ran a little brook； that is；
it was little in summer and winter； but in the spring； while the snow was
melting up in the mountains； it overflowed the nearest land and turned the
whole glen into a broad and shallow river。 It was easy to cross； however；
a light foot might jump from stone to stone； and be over in a minute。 Not
the hind herself could be lighter on her foot than Aasa was； and even in the
spring…flood it was her wont to cross and recross the brook； and to sit
dreaming on a large stone against which the water broke incessantly；
rushing in white torrents over its edges。
Here she sat one fair summer daythe day after Vigfusson's departure。
It was noon； and the sun stood high over the forest。 The water murmured
and murmured； babbled and whispered； until at length there came a
sudden unceasing tone into its murmur； then another； and it sounded like a
faint whispering song of small airy beings。 And as she tried to listen； to
fix the air in her mind； it all ceased again； and she heard but the
monotonous murmuring of the brook。 Everything seemed so empty and
worthless； as if that faint melody had been the world of the moment。 But
there it was again； it sung and sung； and the birch overhead took up the
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
melody and rustled it with its leaves； and the grasshopper over in the grass
caught it and whirred it with her wings。 The water； the trees； the air；
were full of it。 What a strange melody！
Aasa well knew that every brook and river has its Neck； besides hosts
of little water…sprites。 She had heard also that in the moonlight at
midsummer； one might chance to see them rocking in bright little shells；
playing among the pebbles； or dancing on the large leaves of the water…lily。
And that they could sing also； she doubted not； it was their voices she
heard through the murmuring of the brook。 Aasa eagerly bent forward
and gazed down into the water： the faint song grew louder； paused
suddenly； and sprang into life again； and its sound was so sweet； so
wonderfully alluring！ Down there in the water； where a stubborn pebble
kept chafing a precipitous little side current； clear tiny pearl…drops would
leap up from the stream； and float half…wonderingly downward from rapid
to rapid； until they lost themselves in the whirl of some stronger current。
Thus sat Aasa and gazed and gazed； and in one moment she seemed to see
what in the next moment she saw not。 Then a sudden great hush stole
through the forest； and in the hush she could hear the silence calling her
name。 It was so long since she had been in the forest； it seemed ages and
ages ago。 She hardly knew herself； the light seemed to be shining into
her eyes as with a will and purpose； perhaps to obliterate something； some
old dream or memory； or to impart some new powerthe power of seeing
the unseen。 And this very thought； this fear of some possible loss；
brought the fading memory back； and she pressed her hands against her
throbbing temples as if to bind and chain it there forever； and it was he to
whom her thought returned。 She heard his voice； saw him beckoning to
her to follow him； and she rose to obey； but her limbs were as petrified；
and the stone on which she was sitting held her with the power of a
hundred strong arms。 The sunshine smote upon her eyelids； and his
name was blotted out from her life； there was nothing but emptiness all
around her。 Gradually the forest drew nearer and nearer； the water
bubbled and rippled； and the huge； bare… stemmed pines stretched their
long gnarled arms toward her。 The birches waved their heads with a
wistful nod； and the profile of the rock grew into a face with a long；
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
hooked nose； and a mouth half open as if to speak。 And the word that
trembled on his lips was； 〃Come。〃 She felt no fear nor reluctance； but
rose to obey。 Then and not until then she saw an old man standing at her
side； his face was the face of the rock； his white beard flowed to his girdle；
and his mouth was half open； but no word came from his lips。 There was
something in the wistful look of his eye which she knew so well； which
she had seen so often； although she could not tell when or where。 The
old man extended his hand； Aasa took it； and fearlessly or rather
spontaneously followed。 They approached the steep； rocky wall； as they
drew near； a wild； fierce laugh rang through the forest。 The features of
the old man were twisted as it were into a grin； so also were the features of
the rock； but the laugh blew like a mighty blast through the forest。
Aasa clung to the old man's hand and followed himshe knew not
whither。
At home in the large sitting…room at Kvaerk sat Lage； brooding over
the wreck of his hopes and his happiness。 Aasa had gone to the woods
again the very first day after Vigfusson's departure。 What would be the
end of all this？ It was already late in the evening； and she had not
returned。 The father cast anxious glances toward the door； every time he
heard the latch moving。 At last； when it was near midnight； he roused all
his men from their sleep； and commanded them to follow him。 Soon the
dusky forests resounded far and near with the blast of horns； the report of
guns； and the calling and shouting of men。 The affrighted stag crossed
and recrossed the path of the hunters； but not a rifle was leveled at its head。
Toward morning it was before the sun had yet risenLage； weary and
stunned； stood leaning up against a huge fir。 Then suddenly a fierce； wild
laugh rang through the forest。 Lage shuddered； raised his hand slowly
and pressed it hard against his forehead； vainly struggling to clear his
thoughts。 T