ed them even worse
than it had done before. They saw before them rows and rows of dull
clods of earth, but in a steep place the clods suddenly began to move,
and then they knew that what they had taken for clods of earth were
really the backs of a flock of sheep.

Sheep are quite gentle and inoffensive, especially the little lambs, but
that is a good deal more than can be said of the ram, who is a savage
brute and often takes a delight in attacking those who have never done
him any harm. There he was already, jumping over a ditch right into
the middle of their path. He lowered his head and walked a few steps
backwards.

"I am so frightened, mammy," said the little girl, and her heart began
to beat fast.

"Oh! Merciful Father in Heaven, help us!" sighed the mother, with an
imploring look upwards.

And high up, in the blue vault of the sky, fluttering its wings like
a butterfly, a little lark began to sing. And as it sang the ram
disappeared among the grey clods.

They stood before the third gate. They were on a slope now; the ground
was swampy and before long they came to a crevice. The hillocks looked
like little graves, overgrown with vetch or white cotton-flowers and
they had to be careful to avoid sinking into the swamp. Black berries of
a poisonous kind grew in abundance everywhere; the little girl wanted
to gather them, and because her mother would not permit it, she began to
cry, for she did not understand what poisonous meant.

And as they walked on, they noticed a white sheet, which looked as if it
had been drawn in and out through the trees; the sun disappeared behind
a bank of clouds and a white darkness, which was very went towards them,
hoping to find some water in the place whence they came.

On their way they passed a white cottage, behind a green fence with
a white gate; the gate stood hospitably open. They entered and found
themselves in a garden where peonies and colombines grew. The mother
noticed that the curtains in the lower storey were all drawn before
the windows, and that all the curtains were white. But one of the
attic windows stood open and a white hand appeared above the pots of
touch-me-nots. It waved a little white handkerchief, as if it were
waving a last farewell to one who was going on a long journey.

They walked as far as the cottage; in the high grass lay a wreath of
myrtle and white roses. But it was too big for a bridal wreath.

They went through the front door and the mo