ught in the wind. Again he
heard her weeping. And then, without at all knowing what he intended
to do, he sprang to his feet and dashed down the road after her. It
would be fine to speak to her, he thought. And besides, it seemed
almost certain that she needed help.

But it was amazing how fast she could run. He thought: "That's the
kind of a girl you would like to play with--a girl who can run like
that."

Still, he hoped she would become tired before long, so that he might
overtake her. After all, it was rather uncomfortable, pursuing her in
the dark. His own feet made a fearful noise--a ghostly patter which
awoke the night echoes.

Moreover, certain wild creatures of the forest were disturbed. An owl
dashed from its branches overhead and went sailing down the avenues of
the forest. A rabbit, sitting on a little hummock, dropped its
forefeet to the ground and went prancing away, to wheel presently and
look at the road suspiciously.

"I'll never overtake her," thought Everychild. He could just see her
now: a mere blur in the shadows far ahead of him. He could no longer
hear the sound of her feet. Then quite suddenly she disappeared.

Had she fallen? Had she hidden behind a tree? Was she afraid of him?

He ran more softly. If she were hiding he must not frighten her. If
he could only speak to her once she would know very well that she need
not fear him.

But when he came to the spot where she had disappeared he perceived
immediately that she had not hidden. At this point a path turned away
from the road, and it seemed clear that she had taken the path.

The path led into a deeper forest. It became very silent and black.
He could barely see the path beneath his feet. And it seemed to him
that he was now all surrounded by living, hidden creatures, who knew
that he was passing. But he could not feel that Cinderella was
anywhere near him.

The path turned into a lane, and the lane entered a region where there
were vague fields on either side, fields in which things had been
planted. And then he stopped suddenly, not knowing whether he should
continue on his way, or return to his companions by the side of the
road. He had discerned a house before him, standing on the top of a
hill. And although it was very late, a single light burned in one of
its windows.

For just a moment he reflected; and then he continued on his way, in
the direction of that lighted window.

CHAPTER IX

CIND