icebound all the winter, and I stop. The mill is working; the noise of
it wakes me, and I stop suddenly, there and then. "I have stayed out
too long," I say aloud. A pang goes through me; I turn at once and begin
walking homewards, but all the time I know I have stayed out too long. I
walk faster, then run; Asop understands there is something the matter,
and pulls at the leash, drags me along, sniffs at the ground, and is all
haste. The dry leaves crackle about us.

But when we come to the edge of the wood there was no one there. No, all
was quiet; there was no one there.

"There is no one here," I said to myself. And yet it was no worse than I
had expected.

I did not stay long, but walked on, drawn by all my thoughts, passed by
my hut, and went down to Sirilund with Asop and my bag and gun--with all
my belongings.

Herr Mack received me with the greatest friendliness, and asked me to
stay to supper.



VII


I fancy I can read a little in the souls of those about me--but perhaps
it is not so. Oh, when my good days come, I feel as if I could see far
into others' souls, though I am no great or clever head. We sit in a
room, some men, some women, and I, and I seem to see what is passing