pausing on her path, like the woman from the fair hills. And now I
could see her face plainly. Her eyes were lustrous and fascinating, as
the eyes of a serpent--large, dark and soft, as the eyes of the wild
doe. Her lips were parted with a languid smile; and she drew back the
long hair, which lay over her cheeks, her neck, her bosom, while I was
gazing on her.

Then, I felt as if a light were shining on me from the other side. I
turned to look, and there was the woman from the hills beckoning me
away to ascend with her towards the bright clouds above. Her arm, as
she held it forth, shone fair, even against the fair hills; and from
her outstretched hand came long thin rays of trembling light, which
penetrated to where I stood, cooling and calming wherever they touched
me.

But the woman from the woods still came nearer and nearer, until I
could feel her hot breath on my face. Her eyes looked into mine, and
fascinated them, as she held out her arms to embrace me. I touched her
hand, and in an instant the touch ran through me like fire, from head
to foot. Then, still looking intently on me with her wild bright eyes,
she clasped her supple arms round my neck, and drew me a few paces
away with her towards the wood.

I felt the rays of light that had touched me from the beckoning hand,
depart; and yet once more I looked towards the woman from the hills.
She was ascending again towards the bright clouds, and ever and anon
she stopped and turned round, wringing her hands and letting her head
droop, as if in bitter grief. The last time I saw her look towards me,
she was near the clouds. She covered her face with her robe, and knelt
down where she stood. After this I discerned no more of her. For now