ng but the brown
grass of October and here and there a tree-trunk that had fallen long
ago and lay mouldering with no green successor from its roots. One of
these masses of decaying wood, formerly a majestic oak, rested close
beside a pool of green and sluggish water at the bottom of the basin.
Such scenes as this (so gray tradition tells) were once the resort of
a power of evil and his plighted subjects, and here at midnight or on
the dim verge of evening they were said to stand round the mantling
pool disturbing its putrid waters in the performance of an impious
baptismal rite. The chill beauty of an autumnal sunset was now gilding
the three hill-tops, whence a paler tint stole down their sides into
the hollow.

"Here is our pleasant meeting come to pass," said the aged crone,
"according as thou hast desired. Say quickly what thou wouldst have of
me, for there is but a short hour that we may tarry here."

As the old withered woman spoke a smile glimmered on her countenance
like lamplight on the wall of a sepulchre. The lady trembled and cast
her eyes upward to the verge of the basin, as if meditating to return
with her purpose unaccomplished. But it was not so ordained.

"I am stranger in this land, as you know," said she, at length.
"Whence I come it matters not, but I have left those behind me with
whom my fate was intimately bound, and from whom I am cut off for
ever. There is a weight in my bosom that I cannot away with, and I
have come hither to inquire of their welfare."

"And who is there by this green pool that can bring thee news from the
ends of the earth?" cried the old woman, peering into the lady's face.
"Not from my lips mayst thou hear these tidings; yet be thou bold, and
the daylight shall not pass away from yonder hilltop before thy wish
be granted."

"I will do your bidding though I die," replied the lady, desperately.

The old woman seated herself on the trunk of the fallen tree, threw
aside the hood that shrouded her gray locks and beckoned her companion
to draw near.

"Kneel down," she said, "and lay your forehead on my knees."

She hesitated a moment, but the anxiety that had long been kindling
burned fiercely up within her. As she knelt down the border of her
garment was dipped into the pool; she laid her forehead on the old
woman's knees, and the latter drew a cloak about the lady's face, so
that she was in darkness. Then she heard the muttered words of prayer,
in the midst of which s