Also, if I eat,
thou wert best not to sign the meat as Adam's sons are wont. Lead in
then; for now am I grown wilful, and will enter whatever betide.
Birdalone marvelled at those words, but she fell to wishing strongly
that her friend might not lose her lovely youthful shape either then
or ever, and she took her hand, which trembled somewhat, and led her
over the threshold; and when they were under the roof herseemed that
the wood-mother dwindled in a wondrous way, though her face was as
sweet and her limbs as shapely as ever; and she laughed shrilly yet
sweetly, and spake in a thin clear voice: Birdalone, my dear, wish
strongly, wish strongly! though thou shalt see nothing worse of me
than this. And she was scarce three feet high, but as pretty as a
picture.
Thereat indeed was Birdalone affrighted, but she wished all she
might, and stooped down to kiss this little creature; and therewith
again the wood-wife seemed to wax again as great and tall as ever she
was, and her voice came full and strong again, as she laughed and
said: Now is it all over for this time, and I see how well thou
lovest me; and I pray thee love me no less for this wonder thou hast
seen in me.
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