CHAPTER XXXI. THE DRYAD.

Thetonewaspeculiarmyveinsthrilledhesawmeshiver. “Areyouafraid?Whetherisitofmywordsorthatredjealouseyejustwinkingitselfout?” “Iamcoldthenightgrowsdarkandlate,andtheairischangeditistimetogoin.” “Itislittlepasteight,butyoushallgoinsoon.Answermeonlythisquestion.” Yethepausedereheputit.Thegardenwastrulygrowingdarkduskhadcomeonwithclouds,anddropsofrainbegantopatterthroughthetrees.Ihopedhewouldfeelthis,but,forthemoment,heseemedtoomuchabsorbedtobesensibleofthechange. “Mademoiselle,doyouProtestantsbelieveinthesupernatural?” “ThereisadifferenceoftheoryandbeliefonthispointamongstProtestantsasamongstothersects,”Ianswered.“Why,Monsieur,doyouasksuchaquestion?” “Whydoyoushrinkandspeaksofaintly?Areyousuperstitious?” “Iamconstitutionallynervous.Idislikethediscussionofsuchsubjects.Idislikeitthemorebecause—” “Youbelieve?” “No:butithashappenedtometoexperienceimpressions—” “Sinceyoucamehere?” “Yesnotmanymonthsago.” “Here?—inthishouse?” “Yes.” “Bon!Iamgladofit.Iknewit,somehowbeforeyoutoldme.Iwasconsciousofrapportbetweenyouandmyself.Youarepatient,andIamcholericyouarequietandpale,andIamtannedandfieryyouareastrictProtestant,andIamasortoflayJesuit:butwearealike—thereisaffinitybetweenus.Doyouseeit,Mademoiselle,whenyoulookintheglass?Doyouobservethatyourforeheadisshapedlikemine—thatyoureyesarecutlikemine?Doyouhearthatyouhavesomeofmytonesofvoice?Doyouknowthatyouhavemanyofmylooks?Iperceiveallthis,andbelievethatyouwerebornundermystar.Yes,youwerebornundermystar!Tremble!forwherethatisthecasewithmortals,thethreadsoftheirdestiniesaredifficulttodisentangleknottingsandcatchingsoccur—suddenbreaksleavedamageintheweb.Butthese‘impressions,’asyousay,withEnglishcaution.I,too,havehadmy‘impressions.’” “Monsieur,tellmethem.” “Idesirenobetter,andintendnoless.Youknowthelegendofthishouseandgarden?” “Iknowit.Yes.Theysaythathundredsofyearsagoanunwasburiedherealiveatthefootofthisverytree,beneaththegroundwhichnowbearsus.” “Andthatinformerdaysanun’sghostusedtocomeandgohere.” “Monsieur,whatifitcomesandgoesherestill?” “Somethingcomesandgoeshere:thereisashapefrequentingthishousebynight,differenttoanyformsthatshowthemselvesbyday.Ihaveindisputablyseenasomething,morethanonceandtomeitsconventualweedswereastrangesight,sayingmorethantheycandotoanyotherlivingbeing.Anun!” “Monsieur,I,too,haveseenit.” “Ianticipatedthat.Whetherthisnunbefleshandblood,orsomethingthatremainswhenbloodisdried,andfleshiswasted,herbusinessisasmuchwithyouaswithme,probably.Well,Imeantomakeitoutithasbaffledmesofar,butImeantofollowupthemystery.Imean—” Insteadoftellingwhathemeant,heraisedhisheadsuddenlyImadethesamemovementinthesameinstantwebothlookedtoonepoint—thehightreeshadowingthegreatberceau,andrestingsomeofitsboughsontheroofofthefirstclasse.Therehadbeenastrangeandinexplicablesoundfromthatquarter,asifthearmsofthattreehadswayedoftheirownmotion,anditsweightoffoliagehadrushedandcrushedagainstthemassivetrunk.Yestherescarcestirredabreeze,andthatheavytreewasconvulsed,whilstthefeatheryshrubsstoodstill.Forsomeminutesamongstthewoodandleafagearendingandheavingwenton.Darkasitwas,itseemedtomethatsomethingmoresolidthaneithernight-shadow,orbranch-shadow,blackenedoutoftheboles.Atlastthestruggleceased.Whatbirthsucceededthistravail?WhatDryadwasbornofthesethroes?Wewatchedfixedly.Asuddenbellranginthehouse—theprayer-bell.Instantlyintoouralleytherecame,outoftheberceau,anapparition,allblackandwhite.Withasortofangryrush-close,closepastourfaces—sweptswiftlytheveryNUNherself!NeverhadIseenhersoclearly.Shelookedtallofstature,andfierceofgesture.Asshewent,thewindrosesobbingtherainpouredwildandcoldthewholenightseemedtofeelher.