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forest； not a meal had she missed； and at the hours for family devotion she
had taken her seat at the big table with the rest and apparently listened
with as much attention and interest。 Indeed； all this time Aasa seemed
purposely to avoid the dark haunts of the woods； and； whenever she could；
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chose the open highway； not even Vigfusson's entreaties could induce her
to tread the tempting paths that led into the forest's gloom。
〃And why not； Aasa？〃 he would say； 〃summer is ten times summer
there when the drowsy noonday spreads its trembling maze of shadows
between those huge； venerable trunks。 You can feel the summer creeping
into your very heart and soul； there！〃
〃Oh； Vigfusson；〃 she would answer； shaking her head mournfully； 〃for
a hundred paths that lead in； there is only one that leads out again； and
sometimes even that one is nowhere to be found。〃
He understood her not； but fearing to ask； he remained silent。
His words and his eyes always drew her nearer and nearer to him； and
the forest and its strange voices seemed a dark； opposing influence； which
strove to take possession of her heart and to wrest her away from him
forever； she helplessly clung to him； every thought and emotion of her
soul clustered about him； and every hope of life and happiness was staked
on him。
One evening Vigfusson and old Lage Ulfson had been walking about
the fields to look at the crop； both smoking their evening pipes。 But as
they came down toward the brink whence the path leads between the two
adjoining rye… fields； they heard a sweet； sad voice crooning some old
ditty down between the birch…trees at the precipice； they stopped to listen；
and soon recognized Aasa's yellow hair over the tops the rye； the shadow
as of a painful emotion flitted over the father's countenance； and he turned
his back on his guest and started to go； then again paused； and said；
imploringly； 〃Try to get her home if you can； friend Vigfusson。'
Vigfusson nodded； and Lage went； the song had ceased for a moment；
now it began again：
〃Ye twittering birdlings； in forest and glen I have heard you so
gladly before； But a bold knight hath come to woo me； I dare
listen to you no more。 For it is so dark； so dark in the forest。
〃And the knight who hath come a…wooing to me； He calls me
his love and his own； Why then should I stray through the darksome
woods； Or dream in the glades alone？ For it is so dark； so dark in
the forest。〃
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Her voice fell to a low unintelligible murmur； then it rose； and the
last verses came； clear； soft； and low； drifting on the evening breeze：
〃Yon beckoning world； that shimmering lay O'er the woods
where the old pines grow； That gleamed through the moods of the
summer day When the breezes were murmuring low （And it is
so dark； so dark in the forest）；
〃Oh let me no more in the sunshine hear Its quivering
noonday call； The bold knight's love is the sun of my heart
Is my life； and my all in all。 But it is so dark； so dark in the forest。〃
The young man felt the blood rushing to his facehis heart beat
violently。 There was a keen sense of guilt in the blush on his cheek； a
loud accusation in the throbbing pulse and the swelling heart…beat。 Had
he not stood there behind the maiden's back and cunningly peered into her
soul's holy of holies？ True； he loved Aasa； at least he thought he did； and
the conviction was growing stronger with every day that passed。 And
now he had no doubt that he had gained her heart。 It was not so much the
words of the ballad which had betrayed the secret； he hardly knew what it
was； but somehow the truth had flashed upon him； and he could no longer
doubt。
Vigfusson sat down on the moss…grown rock and pondered。 How
long he sat there he did not know； but when he rose and looked around；
Aasa was gone。 Then remembering her father's request to bring her
home； he hastened up the hill…side toward the mansion； and searched for
her in all directions。 It was near midnight when he returned to Kvaerk；
where Aasa sat in her high gable window； still humming the weird melody
of the old ballad。
By what reasoning Vigfusson arrived at his final conclusion is difficult
to tell。 If he had acted according to his first and perhaps most generous
impulse； the matter would soon have been decided； but he was all the time
possessed of a vague fear of acting dishonorably； and it was probably this
very fear which made him do what； to the minds of those whose friendship
and hospitality he had accepted； had something of the appearance he
wished so carefully to avoid。 Aasa was rich； he had nothing； it was a
reason for delay； but hardly a conclusive one。 They did not know him； he
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must go out in the world and prove himself worthy of her。 He would
come back when he should have compelled the world to respect him； for
as yet he had done nothing。 In fact； his arguments were good and
honorable enough； and there would have been no fault to find with him；
had the object of his love been as capable of reasoning as he was himself。
But Aasa； poor thing； could do nothing by halves； a nature like hers brooks
no delay； to her love was life or it was death。
The next morning he appeared at breakfast with his knapsack on his
back； and otherwise equipped for his journey。 It was of no use that Elsie
cried and begged him to stay； that Lage joined his prayers to hers； and that
Aasa stood staring at him with a bewildered gaze。 Vigfusson shook
hands with them all； thanked them for their kindness to him； and promised
to return； he held Aasa's hand long in his； but when he released it； it
dropped helplessly at her side。
V。
Far up in the glen； about a mile from Kvaerk； ran a little brook； that is；
it was little in summer and winter； but in the spring； while the snow was
melting up in the mountains； it overflowed the nearest land and turned the
whole glen into a broad and shallow river。 It was easy to cross； however；
a light foot might jump from stone to stone； and be over in a minute。 Not
the hind herself could be lighter on her foot than Aasa was； and even in the
spring…flood it was her wont to cross and recross the brook； and to sit
dreaming on a large stone against which the water broke incessantly；
rushing in white torrents over its edges。
Here she sat one fair summer daythe day after Vigfusson's departure。
It was noon； and the sun stood high over the forest。 The water murmured
and murmured； babbled and whispered； until at length there came a
sudden unceasing tone into its murmur； then another； and it sounded like a
faint whispering song of small airy beings。 And as she tried to listen； to
fix the air in her mind； it all ceased again； and she heard but the
monotonous murmuring of the brook。 Everything seemed so empty and
worthless； as if that faint melody had been the world of the moment。 But
there it was again； it sung and sung； and the birch overhead took up the
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melody and rustled it with its leaves； and the grasshopper over in the grass
caught it and whirred it with her wings。 The water； the trees； the air；
were full of it。 What a strange melody！
Aasa well knew that every brook and river has its Neck； besides hosts
of little water…s