But the day after she went about somewhat pensive, as though a
troublous thought were on her; and when, three days thereafter, she
met the wood-mother, she spake to her even as they parted, and said:
Mother, much wisdom hast thou learned me, and now this at the last
withal, that hitherto there has been shame in my life; and now fain
were I to be done with it. Fair child, said Habundia, little is the
shame though this woman hath had the upper hand of thee and hath used
thee cruelly: how mightest thou, a child, strive with her? But now
I see and know that there is an end of that; that she feareth thee
now, and will never again raise a hand against thee save thou fall
wholly into her power; as thou shalt not, my child. Be comforted
then for what is gone by! Nay, mother, said Birdalone, it is not
that which troubleth me; for, as thou sayest, what else might I do?
But thy wisdom which thou hast set in my heart hath learned me that
for these last months I have been meeting guile with guile and lies
with lies. And now will I do so no more, lest I become a guileful
woman, with nought good in me save the fairness of my body.
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