Page 54 - Adventures in shadow-land
P. 54
opportunity to hurt them, although as yet no harm
had been done.
Once, before Aster grew so small, Eva asked
him why it was that they were thus followed.
“ It is not you that THEY are following; t h e y
would do me harm if I were to fall into their
hands; but I am safe while you keep me. You
are beyond their reach.”
But, though Aster knew this, it seemed to Eva
that he dared, and tried, to put himself in the
power of THEYj whom lie seemed to dread,— for
it was only when the faces looked at her from
behind tree or shrub that Aster desired to leave
her, and only then that he spoke of t h e y who
always frightened him back to her side. He
never alluded to the flower they sought; only
once, when Eva asked him what it was like,
he said to her:
“ I cannot describe it to you; you will know
it when you see it-"
“ How shall I know it ?" Eva asked.
li You will know it when the time comes,"
Butf though Eva looked carefully for the flower,
she never saw it. There were flowers enough
