sk—taskmostoneroushithertoanditseemedstrangetometofeelrisingwithinmeanincipientsenseofinterest,asIsnuffedthecandleandaddressedmyselftotheperusalofthepoorteacher’smanuscript.
“Now,”thoughtI,“IshallseeaglimpseofwhatshereallyisIshallgetanideaofthenatureandextentofherpowersnotthatshecanbeexpectedtoexpressherselfwellinaforeigntongue,butstill,ifshehasanymind,herewillbeareflectionofit.”
ThenarrativecommencedbyadescriptionofaSaxonpeasant’shut,situatedwithintheconfinesofagreat,leafless,winterforestitrepresentedaneveninginDecemberflakesofsnowwerefalling,andtheherdsmanforetoldaheavystormhesummonedhiswifetoaidhimincollectingtheirflock,roamingfarawayonthepastoralbanksoftheThonehewarnsherthatitwillbelateeretheyreturn.Thegoodwomanisreluctanttoquitheroccupationofbakingcakesfortheeveningmealbutacknowledgingtheprimaryimportanceofsecuringtheherdsandflocks,sheputsonhersheep-skinmantleand,addressingastrangerwhorestshalfreclinedonabedofrushesnearthehearth,bidshimmindthebreadtillherreturn.
“Takecare,youngman,”shecontinues,“thatyoufastenthedoorwellafterusand,aboveall,opentononeinourabsencewhateversoundyouhear,stirnot,andlooknotout.Thenightwillsoonfallthisforestismostwildandlonelystrangenoisesareoftenheardthereinaftersunsetwolveshaunttheseglades,andDanishwarriorsinfestthecountryworsethingsaretalkedofyoumightchancetohear,asitwere,achildcry,andonopeningthedoortoafforditsuccour,agreatblackbull,orashadowygoblindog,mightrushoverthethresholdor,moreawfulstill,ifsomethingflapped,aswithwings,againstthelattice,andthenaravenorawhitedoveflewinandsettledonthehearth,suchavisitorwouldbeasuresignofmisfortunetothehousetherefore,heedmyadvice,andliftthelatchetfornothing.”
Herhusbandcallsheraway,bothdepart.Thestranger,leftalone,listensawhiletothemuffledsnow-w