Phantastes, A Faerie Romance

When she looked towards the second door, her tears ceased to flow, but

sighs took their place. She often closed her eyes as she stood; and

every time she closed her eyes, a gentle sigh seemed to be born in her

heart, and to escape at her lips. But when her eyes were open, her

sighs were deep and very sad, and shook her whole frame. Then she turned

towards the third door, and a cry as of fear or suppressed pain broke

from her; but she seemed to hearten herself against the dismay, and

to front it steadily; for, although I often heard a slight cry, and

sometimes a moan, yet she never moved or bent her head, and I felt sure

that her eyes never closed. Then she turned to the fourth door, and

I saw her shudder, and then stand still as a statue; till at last she

turned towards me and approached the fire. I saw that her face was white

as death. But she gave one look upwards, and smiled the sweetest, most

child-innocent smile; then heaped fresh wood on the fire, and, sitting

down by the blaze, drew her wheel near her, and began to spin. While

she spun, she murmured a low strange song, to which the hum of the wheel

made a kind of infinite symphony. At length she paused in her spinning

and singing, and glanced towards me, like a mother who looks whether

or not her child gives signs of waking. She smiled when she saw that my

eyes were open. I asked her whether it was day yet. She answered, "It is

always day here, so long as I keep my fire burning."

I felt wonderfully refreshed; and a great desire to see more of the

island awoke within me. I rose, and saying that I wished to look about

me, went towards the door by which I had entered.

"Stay a moment," said my hostess, with some trepidation in her voice.

"Listen to me. You will not see what you expect when you go out of that

door. Only remember this: whenever you wish to come back to me, enter

wherever you see this mark."

She held up her left hand between me and the fire. Upon the palm, which

appeared almost transparent, I saw, in dark red, a mark like this -->

which I took care to fix in my mind.

She then kissed me, and bade me good-bye with a solemnity that awed me;

and bewildered me too, seeing I was only going out for a little ramble

in an island, which I did not believe larger than could easily be

compassed in a few hours' walk at most. As I went she resumed her

spinning.