IX

Ihadoftenfeltacertainuglinessaboutthemtheyhadseemedsordidandvulgarbutthiswassopure,soclean!Shewassosaintlyandinnocent.Oh,itwasgood!AndIlaughedatmyselfforthinkingIwasnotinlovewithher.IhadlovedheralwayswhenitbeganIdidnotknow...andIdidnotcareallthatinterestedmenowwastothinkofmyself,lovingandbeloved.Iwasnotworthyofhershewassogood,sokind,andIapoor,meanwretch.Ifeltheragoddess,andIcouldhavekneltdownandworshippedher. IwalkedthroughthestreetsofForliwithswingingstepsIbreathedinthemorningair,andfeltsostrong,andwell,andyoung.Everythingwasbeautiful—alllife!Thegreywallsenchantedmethesombrecarvingsofthechurchesthemarketwomen,gailydressed,enteringthetownladenwithbasketsofmany-colouredfruit.Theygavemegreeting,andIansweredwithalaughingheart.Howkindtheywere!Indeed,myheartwassofulloflovethatitwelledoverandcoveredeverythingandeverybody,sothatIfeltastrange,heartykindnesstoallaroundme.Ilovedmankind!