THE BEAUTIFUL DISTANT LAKE WITHOUT A NAME


When Stineli awoke on the following Sunday morning, she was conscious of
an unusual light-heartedness, and at first could not understand the
cause, until she remembered what day it was, and that her grandmother
had said, on the previous evening, "To-morrow you must have the whole
afternoon to yourself: it is rightfully yours."

After dinner was finished, and all the dishes taken away, and the table
washed off by Stineli, Peterli called out, "Come here to me;" and the
two others screamed, "No, to me!" and her father said, "Now Stineli must
go to look after the goats."

But at this moment her grandmother went through the kitchen, and made a
sign to Stineli to follow her.

"Now go in peace, my child," she said. "I will take care of the goats
and the children; but be sure to come home, both of you, punctually when
the bell rings for prayer." The grandmother knew very well that there
were two of them.

Off flew Stineli, like a bird whose cage-door has suddenly been opened;
and outside stood Rico, who had been waiting for a long time. They went
on together, across the meadow towards the wood.

On the mountains the sun was shining brightly, and the blue heavens lay
over all the landscape. They were obliged to pass, for a little while,
through the shade in the snow; but the sun was shining a little farther
on, and shimmered on the waters of the lake, and there were lovely dry