THE MERRY GREENWOOD 133 



that seemed short to the little white meeting- 

 house that stood here, with the crystal branch 

 in front, singing over its stones. If we could 

 sing over hard places the way a brook does, 

 wouldn't it make it pleasant along the way?'' 



She nodded and tripped along, toward the 

 forest, to a little spring under an oak tree. 

 Over the far mountain the dawn had kissed a 

 wandering cloud to a rosy hue, and it now 

 revealed the face of her who stood beside the 

 spring. What he had thought a green mantle 

 were twining oak leaves, and from their 

 shadow her eyes looked forth into his soul. 



'' Forgive me!" he cried. ^'I forgot you— 

 forgot your voice in the sounds of the world, 

 forgot your eyes in the sights of the world, for- 

 got my promise and our tryst I" 



She smiled— a little mockingly. 



*'I will redeem my promise. I will serve 

 you, as you serve mankind. I will protect the 

 forest and save your tree. It is not too late." 



But her face was lost in shadow as she 

 slipped back into her tree, with the echo, ''Too 

 late, too late!" 



