In the face of her proved weakness, to adventure again
upon the horror of blackness in the groves were a suicide of life or
reason. But here, in the alley of the brook, with the kind stars
above her, and the moon presently swimming into sight, she could
await the coming of day without alarm.
This lane of pine-trees ran very rapidly down-hill and wound among
the woods; but it was a wider thoroughfare than the brook needed,
and here and there were little dimpling lawns and coves of the
forest, where the starshine slumbered. Such a lawn she paced,
taking patience bravely; and now she looked up the hill and saw the
brook coming down to her in a series of cascades; and now approached
the margin, where it welled among the rushes silently; and now gazed
at the great company of heaven with an enduring wonder. The early
evening had fallen chill, but the night was now temperate; out of
the recesses of the wood there came mild airs as from a deep and
peaceful breathing; and the dew was heavy on the grass and the
tight-shut daisies. This was the girl's first night under the naked
heaven; and now that her fears were overpast, she was touched to the
soul by its serene amenity and peace. Kindly the host of heaven
blinked down upon that wandering Princess; and the honest brook had
no words but to encourage her.
At last she began to be aware of a wonderful revolution, compared to
which the fire of Mittwalden Palace was but the crack and flash of a
percussion-cap.
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