小说园

第50部分（第4页）

she　discovered　the　key　of　the　parish　room；　and　betook　herself

there；　and　sat　on　some　sacks　with　her　books。　There　began　another

dream。

She　was　the　only　daughter　of　the　old　lord；　she　was　gifted

with　magic。　Day　followed　day　of　rapt　silence；　whilst　she

wandered　ghost…like　in　the　hushed；　ancient　mansion；　or　flitted

along　the　sleeping　terraces。

Here　a　grave　grief　attacked　her：　that　her　hair　was　dark。　She

must　have　fair　hair　and　a　white　skin。　She　was　rather

bitter　about　her　black　mane。

Never　mind；　she　would　dye　it　when　she　grew　up；　or　bleach　it

in　the　sun；　till　it　was　bleached　fair。　Meanwhile　she　wore　a　fair

white　coif　of　pure　Venetian　lace。

She　flitted　silently　along　the　terraces；　where　jewelled

lizards　basked　upon　the　stone；　and　did　not　move　when　her　shadow

fell　upon　them。　In　the　utter　stillness　she　heard　the　tinkle　of

the　fountain；　and　smelled　the　roses　whose　blossoms　hung　rich　and

motionless。　So　she　drifted；　drifted　on　the　wistful　feet　of

beauty；　past　the　water　and　the　swans；　to　the　noble　park；　where；

underneath　a　great　oak；　a　doe　all　dappled　lay　with　her　four　fine

feet　together；　her　fawn　nestling　sun…coloured　beside　her。

Oh；　and　this　doe　was　her　familiar。　It　would　talk　to　her；

because　she　was　a　magician；　it　would　tell　her　stories　as　if　the

sunshine　spoke。

Then　one　day；　she　left　the　door　of　the　parish　room　unlocked；

careless　and　unheeding　as　she　always　was；　the　children　found

their　way　in；　Katie　cut　her　finger　and　howled；　Billy　hacked

notches　in　the　fine　chisels；　and　did　much　damage。　There　was　a

great　motion。

The　crossness　of　the　mother　was　soon　finished。　Ursula　locked

up　the　room　again；　and　considered　all　was　over。　Then　her　father

came　in　with　the　notched　tools；　his　forehead　knotted。

〃Who　the　deuce　opened　the　door？〃　he　cried　in　anger。

〃It　was　Ursula　who　opened　the　door；〃　said　her　mother。　He　had