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MacDonald, George, 1824-1905

"A Double Story"

"
All her past story, since she found herself first under the wise
woman's cloak, arose, and glided past the inner eyes of the
princess, and she saw, and in a measure understood, it all. But she
sat with her eyes on the ground, and made no sign.
Then said the wise woman:--
"Below there is the forest which surrounds my house. I am going
home. If you pleage to come there to me, I will help you, in a way I
could not do now, to be good and lovely. I will wait you there all
day, but if you start at once, you may be there long before noon. I
shall have your breakfast waiting for you. One thing more: the
beasts have not yet all gone home to their holes; but I give you my
word, not one will touch you so long as you keep coming nearer to my
house."
She ceased. Rosamond sat waiting to hear something more; but nothing
came. She looked up; she was alone.
Alone once more! Always being left alone, because she would not
yield to what was right! Oh, how safe she had felt under the wise
woman's cloak! She had indeed been good to her, and she had in
return behaved like one of the hyenas of the awful wood! What a
wonderful house it was she lived in! And again all her own story
came up into her brain from her repentant heart.


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