Long she slumbered, for when she awoke it was broad
day and the sun was shining high in the heavens, and
she cleared her eyes and looked around, and saw before
her the land, but yet blue in the offing. And
the tree-bole was yet speeding on towards the shore,
as if it were being drawn there by some bidding of
might.
Now indeed grew Birdalone happy, and she thought if
any had helped her it must have been the wood-mother
once again; and she said to herself that she should
soon meet with that helper; nor heeded she that she
was naked and unfurnished of any goods, whereas she
deemed indeed that it was but to ask and have of her
friend.
For a while indeed she knew not whither she was wending,
and if her face were verily turned toward the land
under the wood; but as the morning wore the blue distance
began to grow green, and then she saw that a great
wood was indeed before her, and thereafter, as it
cleared yet more, she knew the land she was nearing
for the meadows of the House under the Wood, and it
was not long thence ere she saw clear and close Green
Eyot and Rocky Eyot, though the house was yet hidden
from her by the green shores of the first of those
two isles.
Shortly to tell it, her tree-bole floated with her
past the outer ness of Green Eyot, and came ashore
in that same sandy bight where erst she was wonted
to make her body ready for the water. She stepped
ashore all glad to feel the firm warm sand underneath
her foot-soles, and as one drunk with joy she was
when the tall flowery grass of the latter May was
caressing her legs as they shook the seed-dust off
the bents, and smote the fragrance out of the blossoms;
and she might scarce at first lift her eyes from their
familiar loveliness. Glad she was indeed, but
exceeding worn and weary with the long voyage, and
all the longing and fear and hope which had encompassed
her that while. She lifted up her eyes but once,
and saw the witch’s house standing where it
was wont, but no shape of man moving about it; then
she turned aside to a little brake of thorn and eglantine
in the meadow hard by, and laid her down on the grass
in the shade thereof, and almost before her head touched
the ground she fell asleep, and slept there long and
peacefully.
It was some while after noon when she wakened, and
the sun was shining bright and hot. Somewhat
she felt the burden of fear upon her, even before
she was fully come to herself, and knew not what it
was that she feared; but when she called to mind that
it was even the meeting with her old mistress, her
flesh quaked indeed with the memory of bygone anguish,
but valiantly she arose and faced the dwelling of
the witch despite her naked helplessness. As
she went she looked up unto it, and saw no smoke coming
from the chimney, but marvelled little thereat since
it was not yet cooking-time and the weather hot.
She drew nigher, and saw someone sitting on the bench
without the door whereas the witch was wonted; and
her heart beat quick, for she saw presently that it
was none other than her mistress. Moreover,
near to her stood three of the milch-kine lowing uneasily
and as in reproach, even as such beasts use when their
udders be full and they desire to be milked.
