sight? Still, it was beautiful. A snow-white room, with flowers
and mistletoe. But why should they pray for us?

LADY. Why indeed! Have we done wrong?

STRANGER. What is wrong?

LADY. I've read there's no such thing. And yet ... I long to see my
mother; not my father, for he turned me out as he did her.

STRANGER. Why should he have turned your mother out?

LADY. Who can say? The children least of all. Let us go to my home.
I long to.

STRANGER. To the lion's den, the snake pit? One more or less makes
no matter. I'll do it for you, but not like the Prodigal Son. No,
you shall see that I can go through fire and water for your sake.

LADY. How do you know ...?

STRANGER. I can guess.

LADY. And can you guess that the path to where my parents live in
the mountains is too steep for carts to use?

STRANGER. It sounds extraordinary, but I read or dreamed something
of the kind.

LADY. You may have. But you'll see nothing that's not natural,