"So it is. Come to my grotto. There is light there."
"Have you another cave, then?"
"Come and see."
But she did not move until I rose first, and then she was on her feet
before I could offer my hand to help her. She came close to my side, and
conducted me through the wood. But once or twice, when, involuntarily
almost, I was about to put my arm around her as we walked on through the
warm gloom, she sprang away several paces, always keeping her face full
towards me, and then stood looking at me, slightly stooping, in the
attitude of one who fears some half-seen enemy. It was too dark to
discern the expression of her face. Then she would return and walk close
beside me again, as if nothing had happened. I thought this strange;
but, besides that I had almost, as I said before, given up the attempt
to account for appearances in Fairy Land, I judged that it would be very
unfair to expect from one who had slept so long and had been so suddenly
awakened, a behaviour correspondent to what I might unreflectingly look
for. I knew not what she might have been dreaming about. Besides, it was
possible that, while her words were free, her sense of touch might be
exquisitely delicate.
At length, after walking a long way in the woods, we arrived at another
thicket, through the intertexture of which was glimmering a pale rosy
light.
"Push aside the branches," she said, "and make room for us to
enter."
I did as she told me.
"Go in," she said; "I will follow you."
I did as she desired, and found myself in a little cave, not very unlike
the marble cave. It was festooned and draperied with all kinds of
green that cling to shady rocks. In the furthest corner, half-hidden in
leaves, through which it glowed, mingling lovely shadows between them,
burned a bright rosy flame on a little earthen lamp. The lady glided
round by the wall from behind me, still keeping her face towards me, and
seated herself in the furthest corner, with her back to the lamp, which
she hid completely from my view. I then saw indeed a form of perfect
loveliness before me. Almost it seemed as if the light of the rose-lamp
shone through her (for it could not be reflected from her); such a
delicate shade of pink seemed to shadow what in itself must be a marbly
whiteness of hue. I discovered afterwards, however, that there was one
thing in it I did not like; which was, that the white part of the eye
was tinged with the same slight roseate hue as the rest of the form. It
is strange that I cannot recall her features; but they, as well as her
somewhat girlish figure, left on me simply and only the impression of
intense loveliness. I lay down at her feet, and gazed up into her face
as I lay.