CHAPTER XIX
MORE MAGIC IN A MIST
Indian summer had come round again before Eric really made up his mind togo. The flowers were asleep in the garden, and there was a steady,gentle shower of yellow leaves down the Forest. That morning when hewoke the little house seemed suspended in a golden mist. As he stood inthe doorway he felt as though it might drift away up over the trees andinto space any minute. But after a little he knew it was not Helma'slittle forest house that was to go swinging away into space andadventure,--it was himself. And suddenly he wanted to go _then_,--to thesea and over and beyond. He called the news in to Helma and Ivra, whowere still within doors. Helma came swiftly out to him.
"The trees are beckoning again, mother," he cried. "The way they did ayear ago when I first came here. Now it is just as Wild Star said. Themusic is beginning to go on. There's magic out to-day. Oh, what madeWild Star know so much?"
"Sit down," said Helma. She took his hand and drew him down beside heron the door stone. Then she held it firmly while very slowly anddistinctly, but once only, she gave him directions about how to go,where to go and what to do, so that he might follow the magic.
Eric sat and listened attentively, in spite of the high beating of hisheart, and the magic working in his head. As soon as she was done, hewanted to go right away that minute. For even in his happiness he knewthat saying good-by to all his friends in the Forest would be too sad atask. They did not say good-by when they went on long adventures, orfollowed summer south. They simply disappeared one day, and those whostayed behind forgot them until next season. So Eric would do as they.
Only last week Helma had made him a warm brown suit for the comingwinter. The new strong sandals on his feet he had made himself. His capwas new, too, and Helma had stuck two new little brown feathers in it asin the old one; so he still had a look of flying. There was reallynothing to delay his departure further. Helma called to Ivra, and shecame out slowly. There was no need to explain things to her, for she hadheard everything.
Helma lifted Eric's chin in her palms and looked long and earnestly atthe child she was letting go away from her all alone out into the queerworld of Earth People. She picked him up in her strong arms then, asthough he were a very little boy, and kissed him. She ran with him tothe opening in the hedge and set him down there, laughing.
"Run along now 'round the world," she said. "And when you come backbring a hundred new World Stories with you!"
Eric laughed too, and promised and stood on tiptoes to kiss her again.He stroked her short flower petal hair, and kissed her cool brown cheekover and over. But he did not cling to her. And he did not say anotherword, but ran to catch up with Ivra who was to walk with him until noonand had gone on ahead.
The children did not scuffle through the banks of leaves, or jump andrun and burst into play as they were used to doing. They walked steadilyforward, saying very little, neither hurrying nor delaying their steps.Once when Eric's sandal came untied Ivra knelt to fix it, for she wasstill more skillful with knots than he.
But when the sun showed that it was noon, Ivra's steps grew slower andslower, dragged and dragged, until at last she stood still in a billowof leaves.
"I have to go back now," she said.
In a flash all the magic swept out of the day for Eric. He knew he couldnever say good-by to Ivra, so he stayed silent, looking ahead into thefluttering, golden forest. But even as he looked the trees began tobeckon with their high fingers, and 'way away, down long avenues oftrees he _almost_ glimpsed the sea.
Ivra threw her arms about his neck and kissed him. "Good-by, comrade,"was all she said.
He kissed her cheeks. "I'll come back," he promised. But before he hadgone many steps he turned to see her again. She was standing in thebillow of leaves, a lonely-looking little girl, her face paler than ithad been even on that day of the wind-hunt. He wanted to run back to herand tell her he would be her playmate always, and never leave theForest. But he wanted, too, to go on and across the sea and into foreignlands. He stayed irresolute.
And then quite suddenly, standing just behind Ivra, he saw Tree Mother.She was not looking at him at all, but at Ivra, and her eyes were kindstars. When Ivra turned to go home she must walk right into TreeMother's arms and against her breast. So Eric was happy again, Ivracould not be lonely with dear Tree Mother. Perhaps she would take her upin her air-boat high above the falling leaves, where she could look downon the magic. He waved, calling, "Remember me to the Snow Witches whenthey come." That was not because he really wanted to be remembered tothem but because he knew that Ivra liked them best of all, and itwould please her.
She nodded and waved too, and threw him a kiss. Then a shower offluttering leaves came between the playmates.
When it was clear again Eric had run on out of sight, and was lost toIvra in the Forest. On and on and on through the showers of goldenleaves he went, magic at his elbow and around him, and beckoning aheadof him. And after long walking and many thoughts, at last he did see thesea, gleaming blue and white sparkles between the golden trees.
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