Pagina 168 de 788

Even though thus engaged she turned her head towards the

gooseberry bushes, mindful of the rustling she had heard among

them, and not knowing that her assailant had already drawn near

from the opposite direction, crawling like a serpent over the

borders. Suddenly he jumped out from the burdock; she looked-he

was standing near at hand, four beds away from her, and was

bowing low. She had already turned away her head and lifted her

arms, and was hurrying to fly away like a frightened lark, and

already her light steps were brushing over the leaves, when the

children, frightened by the entrance of the stranger, and the

flight of the girl, began to wail piteously. She heard them, and

felt that it was unseemly to desert little children in their

fright; she went back, hesitating, but she must needs go back,

like an unwilling spirit, summoned by the incantations of a

diviner.