im all in white--a dress that was like snow on the mountain-tops
when the sun is setting and gives it rose and purple colour. I shall
be like that, hidden among the trees, saying: 'Am I different--not like
Rima? Will he know me--will he love me just the same?' Oh, do I not
know that you will be glad, and love me, and call me beautiful? Listen!
Listen!" she suddenly exclaimed, lifting her face.

Among the bushes not far from the cave's mouth a small bird had broken
out in song, a clear, tender melody soon taken up by other birds further
away.

"It will soon be morning," she said, and then clasped her arms about me
once more and held me in a long, passionate embrace; then slipping away
from my arms and with one swift glance at the sleeping old man, passed
out of the cave.

For a few moments I remained sitting, not yet realizing that she had
left me, so suddenly and swiftly had she passed from my arms and my
sight; then, recovering my faculties, I started up and rushed out in
hopes of overtaking her.

It was not yet dawn, but there was still some light from the full
moon, now somewhere behind the mountains. Running to the verge of the
bushgrown plateau, I explored the rocky slope beneath without seeing her
form, and then called: "Rima! Rima!"

A soft, warbling sound, uttered by no bird, came up from the shadowy
bushes far below; and in that direction I ran on; then pausing, called
again. The sweet sound was repeated once more, but much lower down now,
and so faintly that I scarcely heard it. And when I went on further
and called again and again, there was no reply, and I knew that she had
indeed gone on that long journey alone.

CHAPTER XVIII

When Nuflo at length opened his eyes he found me sitting alone and
despondent by the fire, just returned from my vain chase. I had been
caught in a heavy mist on the mountain-side, and was wet through as well
as weighed down by fatigue and drowsiness, consequent upon the previous
day's laborious march and my night-long vigil; yet I dared not think of
rest. She had gone from me, and I could not have prevented it; yet the
thought that I had allowed her to slip out of my arms, to go away alone
on that long, perilous journey, was as intolerable as if I had consented
to it.

Nuflo was at first startled to hear of her sudden departure; but he
laughed at my fears, affirming that after having once been over the
ground she could not lose herself; that she would be in no danger f