Phantastes, A Faerie Romance

One of the rusty hinges cracked and broke as I opened the door: it

revealed a number of small pigeon-holes. These, however, being but

shallow compared with the depth of those around the little cupboard, the

outer ones reaching to the back of the desk, I concluded that there

must be some accessible space behind; and found, indeed, that they were

formed in a separate framework, which admitted of the whole being pulled

out in one piece.

Behind, I found a sort of flexible portcullis of small

bars of wood laid close together horizontally. After long search, and

trying many ways to move it, I discovered at last a scarcely projecting

point of steel on one side. I pressed this repeatedly and hard with

the point of an old tool that was lying near, till at length it

yielded inwards; and the little slide, flying up suddenly, disclosed a

chamber--empty, except that in one corner lay a little heap of withered

rose-leaves, whose long-lived scent had long since departed; and, in

another, a small packet of papers, tied with a bit of ribbon, whose

colour had gone with the rose-scent. Almost fearing to touch them, they

witnessed so mutely to the law of oblivion, I leaned back in my chair,

and regarded them for a moment; when suddenly there stood on the

threshold of the little chamber, as though she had just emerged from its

depth, a tiny woman-form, as perfect in shape as if she had been a small

Greek statuette roused to life and motion. Her dress was of a kind that

could never grow old-fashioned, because it was simply natural: a robe

plaited in a band around the neck, and confined by a belt about the

waist, descended to her feet. It was only afterwards, however, that I

took notice of her dress, although my surprise was by no means of so

overpowering a degree as such an apparition might naturally be expected

to excite. Seeing, however, as I suppose, some astonishment in my

countenance, she came forward within a yard of me, and said, in a voice

that strangely recalled a sensation of twilight, and reedy river banks,

and a low wind, even in this deathly room:-

"Anodos, you never saw such a little creature before, did you?"

"No," said I; "and indeed I hardly believe I do now."

"Ah! that is always the way with you men; you believe nothing the first

time; and it is foolish enough to let mere repetition convince you of

what you consider in itself unbelievable. I am not going to argue with

you, however, but to grant you a wish."