Now was the winter gone and the spring-tide come again, and with the
blossoming of the earth blossomed Birdalone also. Nought sweeter of
flesh might she be than erst, but there was now a new majesty grown
into her beauty; her limbs were rounded, her body fulfilled, her skin
sleeked and whitened; and if any mother's son had beheld her feet as
they trod the meadow besprinkled with saffron and daffodil, ill had
it gone with him were he gainsaid the kisses of them, though for the
kissing had he fared the worse belike.

That spring-tide, amidst of April, she followed the witch-wife down
to the Sending Boat for the third time; and there went everything as
erst, and she deemed now that the lesson was well learned, and that
she was well-nigh as wise as the witch herself therein.

But the day after she went about somewhat pensive, as though a
troublous thought were on her; and when, three days thereafter, she
met the wood-mother, she spake to her even as they parted, and said:
Mother, much wisdom hast thou learned me, and now this at the last
withal, that hitherto there has been shame in my life; and now fain
were I to be done with it. Fair child, said Habundia, little is the
shame though this woman hath had the upper hand of thee and hath used
thee cruelly: how mightest thou, a child, strive with her? But now
I see and know that there is an end of that; that she feareth thee
now, and will never again raise a hand against thee save thou fall
wholly into her power; as thou shalt not, my child. Be comforted
then for what is gone by! Nay, mother, said Birdalone, it is not
that which troubleth me; for, as thou sayest, what else might I do?
But thy wisdom which thou hast set in my heart hath learned me that