Rosamond saw them give a great start, shudder, waver to and fro,
then sit down on the steps of the dais; and she knew they were
punished, but knew not how. She rushed up to them, and catching a
hand of each said--
"Father, dear father! mother dear! I will ask the wise woman to
forgive you."
"Oh, I am blind! I am blind!" they cried together. "Dark as night!
Stone blind!"
Rosamond left them, sprang down the steps, and kneeling at her feet,
cried, "Oh, my lovely wise woman! do let them see. Do open their
eyes, dear, good, wise woman."
The wise woman bent down to her, and said, so that none else could
hear, "I will one day. Meanwhile you must be their servant, as I
have been yours. Bring them to me, and I will make them welcome."
Rosamond rose, went up the steps again to her father and mother,
where they sat like statues with closed eyes, half-way from the top
of the dais where stood their empty thrones, seated herself between
them, took a hand of each, and was still.
All this time very few in the room saw the wise woman.
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