from between the trees; these musing shepherd lads calling them upon
oaten pipes--"Panaque, Silvanumque senem, nymphasque sorores." I saw
them, I saw them! I walked fast! my feet raced with my thoughts. My
heart was beating, my blood was hot, my inclinations were pastoral, but
enthusiastic. I was disposed to admire, and prepared to prove that I
admired. I could have embraced a sapling and swooned as I called upon
Dryas or Syrinx. Then, by-and-by, in the fulness of the time I saw a
slim solitary girl ahead of me in a glade, walking bolt upright with a
huge faggot of sticks upon her head. It was growing dusk. I could see
little of her save that she was tall and walked superbly well from the
hips, that her skirts were thin and close about her person, that she was
alone, young and over-burdened. I quickened my steps.

She stopped, she turned to face me; I saw her black hair close-
curtaining her whiteness; I saw her steady eyes under dark and level
brows; I saw she was very thin and as wild as a hawk. I was foolishly
agitated, she not at all.

"Buona sera," said she. She stood easily, upright, her burden on her
head. Her hands were on her hips, she was perfectly simple, as simple as
a nymph, and as handsome in her proud, calm, savage way.

I returned her greeting, and more for the sake of getting countenance
than for the answer, asked her to direct me to some lodging not too far
off. She took some time in replying, but her eyes never left mine. She
gave me a steady scrutiny, in which were neither vulgar curiosity nor
equally vulgar stupidity to be discerned. It seemed that she was busy
with her thoughts how she was to answer me, for when she had looked her
full she shrugged and turned her head stiffly, saying, "There is none,
for your excellency."