Page 52 - Adventures in shadow-land

43 Eva's Adventures in Shadow-Land.
V
For days the two went on, walking while the
moon shone, and sleeping when her light was hid.

At each moonrise they were awakened by the

strains of music, which, as the moon waned, grew
sadder and more mournful; while that accom­
panying her setting became at last a low, sad

moaning, and each day she grew smaller, and,

in sympathy with her, Aster seemed to dwindle
and wane, and he became more and more help­
less, till at last, when the moon was reduced to a

thin crescent, the little prince was once more as

small as he was when Eva first received him.
Yet, through all these changes, the two went
slowly on through the dark forest, which opened

on either side of the path to let them pass, and
closed again behind them. Were they thirsty,

they were sure to find some tiny spring, issuing
as at a wish from the earth ; were they hungry,

some wild fruit or berry was always to be found.
But not once did Eva leave the path- What it

was that kept her in it, she could not tell,—
except that every time she felt the slightest desire

to go into the forest, she saw the same hateful
faces which had peeped at her for the first time