小学英语英语故事童话故事A Story From the Sand-Dunes沙丘的故事

AStoryFromtheSand—Dunes沙丘的故事

ThisisastoryofthesanddunesofJutland,butitdoesn，tbeginthere;no,it

beginsfarawaytothesouth,inSpain.Theoceanisthehighwaybetweenthetwo

countries.SonowletyourthoughtsjourneytoSpain!

Itiswarmthere,anditisbeautiful.Thefieryredpomegranateblossomsgrowamong

thedarklaurels;arefreshingwindfromthemountainsbreathesovertheorange

gardensandthegracefulMoorishpalaceswithgoldencupolasandcoloredwalls.

Childrenwalkinprocessionthroughthestreets,carryingtorchesandwavingbanners,

whilehighabovethemstarssparkleinthecleararchingvaultofheaven.Songand

castanetscanbeheard;youngmenandgirlsdanceundertheblossomingacacias,while

thebeggarliesonacarvedmarbleblock,quencheshisthirstwithajuicywatermelon,

anddozeshislifeaway.Itisalllikeabeautifuldream;giveyourselfuptoit.

Yes,asdidtheyoungmarriedcouple,towhomhadbeengrantedallthechoicestof

earthlyblessings-health,beauty,goodnature,riches,andhonor.

〃Weareashappyasanyonecouldeverbe!〃theysaid,withfullconvictionintheir

hearts.Yettheyhadonestephighertogotoattaincompletehappiness,andthat

wouldbereachedwhenGodwouldgivethemachild,asonintheirownimage,body

andsoul.Thatblessedchildwouldbewelcomedwithjubilance,caredforwiththe

utmostloveandtenderness,andbesurroundedbyalltheluxuriesthatrichesand

aninfluentialfamilycanprovide.

Meanwhilethedaysglidedpast,eachlikeaholiday.

"Lifeisapreciousgiftoflove,almosttoogreattounderstand,z，saidthewife.

“Andjusttothinkthatthisfullnessofblissshallstillincreaseandgrow,in

anotherlife,throughouteternity.Icanhardlyconceiveofit!〃

“Anditcertainlyalsoshowsthearroganceofpeople,〃saidherhusband.〃Itreally

showsaterribleconceitwhenpeoplepersuadethemselvestothinkthey'11live

forever-becomeasGod!Werethesenotthewordsoftheserpent,themasteroflies?”

〃Yousurelydon，tdoubtthatthereisalifeafterthis,doyou?〃askedhisyoung

wife,anditwasasifashadowpassedthroughtheirsunlitthoughtsforthefirst

time.

“Faithpromisesit,Iknow,andtheprieststellusitisso,〃saidtheyoungman.

“But,happyasIamnow,Ifeelandknowthatitisonlypride,anarrogantthought

thatdemandsanotherlifeafterthis-anextensionofthishappiness.Haven，twe

beengrantedenoughinthislife,sothatwecouldandshouldbesatisfied?”

〃Yes,thathasbeengivenus,〃saidtheyoungwife,“buthowmanythousandsfind

thislifeaheavytrail!Howmanyhavebeenthrownintothisworldonlytofindpoverty,

shame,sickness,andmisfortune!No,iftherewerenoafterlife,theblessingson

thisearthwouldbetoounequallydivided-ourGodwouldnotbeaGodofjustice!z/

“Thebeggardownonthestreethaspleasuresjustasdeartohimasthekingenjoys

inhissplendidpalace,〃saidtheyoungman.〃Andwhataboutthepoorbeastofburden

thatisbeatenandstarvedandworksitselftodeath?Doesn，titsensethebitterness

ofitsmiserablelife?Whyshouldn，tittoodemandanafterlife,andcallitunfair

thatitwasn，tgrantedtheadvantagesofahighercreation?”

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z/Christtoldus,'InmyFather，shousearemanymansions,J〃answeredtheyoungwife.

“TheKingdomofHeavenisasinfiniteasGod5slove.TheanimalisHiscreationtoo,

andIdon，tbelievethatanysinglelifewillbelost,butthateachwillbegranted

thegreatestshareofhappinessitiscapableofreceiving.z/

〃Butthisworldisgoodenoughformenow,〃saidtheyoungman,asheslippedhis

armaroundhislovely,amiablewifeandsmokedacigaretteontheopenbalcony,where

thecoolairwasheavywiththefragranceoforangeblossomsandcarnations.Songs

andtheclickingofcastanetscamefromthestreet,whilethestarsglitteredhigh

above,andtwoeyesfulloflove-hiswife'seyes-gazedonhimwiththeexpression

ofeternallove.〃Amomentlikethis,〃hesaid,z/makesbeingbornwellworthwhile

-justtoexperiencesuchamoment-andthenvanish,zzhesaidsmiling,whilehis

wifeshookherfingerreprovingly.Andthecloudsoonpassed;theyweremuchtoo

happy.

Everythingthathappenedseemedonlytoaddtotheirhappinessandwell-being.A

changecame,butitwasonlyachangeofplace,notachangethatdiminishedtheir

happinessandenjoymentoflife.TheyoungmanwasappointedbytheKingtobe

ambassadortothecourtofimperialRussia,apostofgreathonor,suchashisbirth

andabilitywellfittedhimtooccupy.Hehadagreatfortuneofhisown,andhis

youngwife'swealthwasequaltohis,forshewasthedaughteroftherichestand

mostrespectedmerchant.Andsinceoneofherfather，slargestandfinestshipswould

sailthisyeartoStockholm,itwasarrangedthatthedearchildren,thedaughter

andtheson-in-law,wouldtravelonittoSt.Petersburg.Everythingwasroyally

fittedoutforthevoyage,withsoftcarpetsunderfootandsilkensplendor

everywhere.

ThereisanoldheroicballadfamiliartoallDanes,called〃TheKingofEngland's

Son.z/Healsogoestoseainasplendidship,withitsanchorinlaidwithpuregold

andeveryropewovenofsilk.TheshipoftheSpanishmerchantmighthavereminded

oneofthisvessel,forthemagnificencewassimilar,andthefarewellthoughtswere

verymuchthesame:

Godgrantthatwemeetwithjoyagain!

Thepartingwasbrief,forafairwindblewbrisklyofftheSpanishcoast.Theyhoped

toreachtheirdestinationinafewweeks.Butassoonastheywerewelloutatsea

thewinddieddowntorest.Theoceangrewsmooth,andthewatersreflectedthe

glitteringlightofthestarsofheaven.Therewerefestiveeveningsintheirrichly

appointedcabin.

Atlasttheywishedthewindwouldriseagain,tospeedthemontheirvoyage.But

everywindthatarosecamefromthewrongdirection.Weekswentby;twowholemonths

passed,infact,beforethewindblewintheirfavor,fromthesouthwest.

TheyweresomewherebetweenScotlandandJutland,whenthewestwindburstforth,

justasintheoldballad,〃TheKingofEngland'sSon”:

Whiletheskywasdarkandthewindblew,

Andtherewasneitherportnorlandinview,

Theycasttheiranchor,buttonoavail;

TheywereblowntoDenmarkbyawestwindgale.

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Thisoccurredalongtimeago.KingChristianVII,stillayoungman,thensaton

thethroneofDenmark.Muchhashappenedsincethen;therehavebeenmanychanges

andinnovations.Lakesandswampshavebecomegreenmeadows,whileheathshavebeen

plowedintousefulland.AndintheshelteroftheWestJutlander，shousetherenow

growappletreesandroses,butyoumustseektheseout,fortheyhidefromthesharp

westwind.

Still,itiseasytoimagineyourselfbackintimesmoreremotethaneventhereign

ofChristianVII,fornow,asthen,thebrownheathofJutlandstretchesformiles

withitsbarrows,itsmirages,itswinding,rough,sandyroads.Tothewest,where

broadstreamsofwaterflowintothefiords,therearemarshesandmeadows,encircled

bythehighsandhillswhichriseuptowardthesealikeanAlpinechainwithjagged

summits,brokenonlybyhighbanksofclay.Fromthesethewaveseatoffgiant

mouthfulsyearafteryear,sothattheedgesandsummitstoppledownasthoughshaken

byanearthquake.That'showitlookstoday,andthat'showitlookedmanyyears

ago,whenthehappycouplesailedpastitintheirsplendidship.

Itwasabright,sunshinySundayinlateSeptember;thepealsofthechurchbells

extendedtooneanotherallalongtheNissumFiord.Thechurchestherearelike

immensestones,eachlikeapieceofrockmountain;theNorthSeaitselfmightwash

overthem,andtheywouldstillstandfirm.Mostofthemhavenotowers,theirbells

hangingoutintheopenairbetweentwowoodenbeams.

Theserviceshadended,andthecongregationemergedfromtheHouseofGodintothe

churchyardwherethen,asnow,theregrewneithertreenorshrub.Noplants,flowers,

orwreathsadornedthegraves;onlyroughhillocksshowedwherethedeadhadbeen

buried,whilesharpgrass,beatenflatbythewind,coveredthewholecemetery.Here

andthereasinglegravestillhasatombstone,perhapsamolderinglog,cutinthe

shapeofacoffin.ThesearepiecesofdriftwoodfromtheforestsofWestJutland.

Thewildseaprovidestheshoredwellerswithmanyhewnplanks,castuponthecoast.

Butthewindandsaltseaspraysoonwearawaythesemonuments.

Oneoftheseblockshadbeenplacedonthegraveofchild,towhichayoungwoman

camefromthechurch.Shestoppedandgazeddownattherottedwood;shortlyher

husbandjoinedher.Theyspokenoword;presentlyhetookherhand,andtogether

theywalkedawayfromthegrave,onoverthebrownheathandoverthemoortoward

thesanddunes.Foralongtimetheywalkedinsilence.

“Thatwasagoodsermontoday,，zsaidtheman.〃Ifwedidn，thaveourLordwewould

havenothing.z/

〃Yes,〃repliedhiswife,〃Hesendsushappinessandsorrow.Hehasarightto.Our

littleboywouldhavebeenfiveyearsoldtomorrowifwehadbeenallowedtokeep

him.zz

〃Itdoesnogoodtogrieve,〃saidtheman.〃Heismuchbetterofftherethanhere;

heiswherewepraytogo.〃

Theysaidnomore,butpassedonsilentlytowardtheirhomeamongthesanddunes.

Suddenly,fromoneofthese,wheretherewasnograsstoholdthesanddown,itlooked

asifacolumnofheavysmokewererising;itwasreallyagustofwindboringinto

thebankandwhirlingthefineparticlesofsandintotheair.Asecondgustfollowed,

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sostrongthatthestringsoffishhungonthelinerattledagainstthewallsof

thehouse;butitlastedforonlyamoment;thenallwasquietagain,andthesun

shonewarmly.

Themanandhiswifewentintotheirhouse,quicklychangedfromtheirSundayclothes,

andthenhurriedacrossthedunes,whichlookedlikeenormouswavesofsandsuddenly

frozeninmotion.Theseareedandthebluishgreenofthesharpdunegrassalone

relievedthemonotonyofthewhitesand.Acoupleofneighborsappeared,andall

helpedinpullingtheboatshigheruponthesandyshore,whilethewindsteadily

strengthenedandblewbitinglycold.Whentheyreturnedacrossthedunesthewaves

wereliftingtheirwhitecaps;sandandsharppebbleswerebeatingintotheirfaces,

andthewindcutoffthetopridgesofsomeofthedunes,breakingthemintosand

showers.

Eveningcame,andaswellingsoundfilledtheair;therewasahowlingandwailing

likeahostofdespairingspirits,andeventhoughthefisherman'shutlaynearthe

shore,thenoiseofthewinddrownedtheroarofthesea.Thesanddriftedagainst

thewindowpanes,andeverynowandthentherecameaviolentgustofwindthatseemed

toshakethehousetoitsveryfoundation.Itwasadarkevening;themoonwould

notriseuntilnearlymidnight.

Theairclearedalittle,butthestormwasnowragingwithallitsfuryoverthe

deep,blackocean.Thefishermanandhiswifehadlongsincegonetobed,butin

suchweatheritwasimpossibletocloseaneye.

Suddenlytherewasatapatthewindow;thedoorwaspushedopen,andsomeonesaid,

〃Alargeshipisstrandedontheouterreef!z/Inamomentthemanandhiswifewere

outofbedanddressingthemselveshurriedly.

Themoonwasupnow,anditwouldhavebeenlightenoughtoseehaditnotbeenfor

theflyingsandwhichforcedeyestosquint.Onlywithgreatdifficulty,waiting

foreachlullandcreepingalittlefartherbetweengusts,couldtheymaketheir

wayacrossthesanddunes.Andnow,likeswan's-downintheair,saltywhitefoam

flewinfromthesea,asithurleditswavesagainstthecoastinboilingfury.

Onlyalong-experiencedeyecouldhavedistinguishedtheshipwayoutthere;itwas

asplendidtwo-master.Atthatveryinstantitwasliftedoverthereef,threeor

fourcable，slengthsofftheusualchannel;itdroveontowardland,struckagainst

thesecondreef,andtherestuckfast.

Itwasimpossibletosendanyhelp,fortheseawasfartootumultuous;wavesbroke

overtheentirevessel.Theyimaginedhearingscreamsofterror,thecriesofdeath

agony;theycouldseetheaimlessrushingtoandfroonboard;itwasallhopeless,

helpless.Nowawavelikeathunderingavalanchecrasheddownonthebowsprit,and

thenitdisappeared.Thesternrosehighabovethewater,andtwopeoplecouldbe

seenleapingfromitintothesea;theydisappeared-amomentmore-andatremendous

wavethunderingtowardthedunesflungabodyontheshore.Itwasawoman,andsurely

shewasdead!Acoupleofwomenwhoquicklygatheredaroundherbelievedsheshowed

signsoflife,andcarriedheroverthedunestothefisherman，scottage.How

beautifulanddaintyshewas!一nodoubtaladyofrank.

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Theylaidherinthefisherman，shumblebed;therewasnolinentowrapherin,only

awoolenblanket;butatleastthiswaswarmandcomfortable.Shebreathed,butshe

wasinahighfever.Shehadnoideawhereshewasorwhathadhappened;perhaps

thiswasjustaswell,forallthatwasdeartohernowlayatthebottomofthe

ocean;theyhadmetthesamefateasthosesungofintheballadabout〃TheKing

ofEngland'sSon〃：

Asorrowfulsightitwastoall;

Theshipwasbrokenintopiecessmall!

Manybitsofthewreckweredrivenashore,buttheladyalonesurvivedofallthe

voyagers.Stillthewindhowledandwailedalongthecoast.

Forafewminutessheseemedtorest,butthencamescreamsofpainandfear.Her

beautifuleyesopened,andshespokeafewwords,butnoonecouldunderstandher.

Atlast,afterhoursofsufferingandstruggles,therenestledinherarmsatiny,

newbornchild.

Thatchildwastohaverestedundersilkencurtainsinabeautifulhome,wastohave

beenwelcomedtoalifefullofthisworld，sriches;butourLordhadwilledthat

heshouldbeborninthishumblehut;andnotsomuchasonekisswashetoreceive

fromthelipsofhismother!

Thefisherman'swifeplacedthebabyagainstitsmother，sheart,aheartthatbeat

nolonger-shewasdead.Andthechildwhowastohavebeenbroughtupinluxury

andpleasurehadbeenhurledheadlongintolife,tossedbytheseaamongthesand

dunes,theretoexperiencethelotofapoorman,andwearyanddarkdays.

Andalwaystheoldsongcomestoourmind:

OntheKing，sson5scheektherewasatear

“Pray,Christ,IreachBovbjerg;thenIshan，tfear!

IfonlyIhadcometoHerrBugge'sStrand;

Thennoknightnorsquireofanyband

Wouldhavedaredagainstmeliftahand.〃

TheshiphadbeenwreckedalittletothesouthoftheNissumFiord,onthevery

shorethatHerrBuggehadoncecalledhisown.Thehard,crueltimesoftheballad,

whenthedwellersonthewesterncoasttreatedcastawayssoinhumanly,hadlong

passed.Theshipwreckedwerenowtreatedwithloveandkindness,astheyareinour

owntime.Thedyingmotherandtheunfortunatechildwouldhavebeentreatedwith

theutmostcareandtenderness,whereverthestormhaddriventhem;butnowherecould

theyhavereceivedmoresincerekindnessthaninthehutofthatpoorfisherwoman

who,onlyyesterday,hadstoodwithasorrowfulheartbesidethegraveofherchild

who,ifGodhadallowedhimtolive,wouldtodayhavecompletedhisfifthyear.

Nooneknewtheidentityofthedeadwomanorfromwhereshehadcome.Thebroken

fragmentsofthewreckedshipbroughtnoexplanation.

Noletterornewsofthedaughterandson-in-lawwaseverreceivedattherich

merchantJshouseinSpain.Theycouldnothavereachedtheirdestination,

consideringtheviolentstormsthathadragedforthelastfewweeks.Formonths

theywaited,beforeadmittingtothemselvesthesadtruth:〃A11lost!Allperished!z/

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ButinthehutofthefishermannearthesanddunesofHunsbytherewasnowatiny

infant.

WhereGodprovidesfoodfortwothereissuretobeenoughforathird;andnear

theseathereisalwaysatleastaplateoffishforhungrymouths.Theychristened

thelittleoneJorgen.

“SurelyhemustbeaJewishchild,〃peoplesaid;〃hisskinissodark./z〃Hemayjust

aseasilybeItalianorSpanish,〃saidtheclergyman.Tothefisherman，swifeall

threeracesseemedverymuchthesame,butitwasagreatcomforttohertoknow

thatatleastthechildwasreallyabaptizedChristian.

Theboythrived,hisnoblebloodsustainingwarmthandgainingstrengthfromthe

poorfare,ashegrewinthathumblehut;theDanishlanguage,asspokeninWest

Jutland,becamehisownlanguage.ThepomegranateseedfromSpainhadbecomea

sea-grassplantonJutland，swesterncoast,andinthishome,soforeigntohis

inheritance,hetookrootfortherestofhislife.Hewastoexperiencehungerand

cold,apoorman，swantsandtroubles,butalsohewastoknowapoorman，spleasures.

Foreveryonechildhoodhasitshighlights,andthememoriesofthesesparkle

throughoutone'swholelife.Whatafullshareofplayandpleasurehehad!Allthe

milesofshorewerestrewnwithplaythingsforhim;itwasamosaicofpebbles,red

ascoral,yellowasamber,orwhiteandroundasbirds'eggs,allbrightwithcolors,

andsmoothandpolishedbythesea.Eventhedried-outskeletonofafish,thewater

plants,driedbythewind,ortheshiny,whiteseaweed,longandnarrowlikestrings

flutteringamongtherocks,wereadelighttoeyeandheart.Theboywasawide-awake

child,fullofability.Howhecouldrememberalltheoldstoriesorsongshehad

everheard!Andhowcleverhewaswithhisfingers!Hecouldmakesailingshipsout

ofstonesandshellsordrawpicturesthatwerequiteanornamenttotheroom.He

couldz/carvehisthoughtsoutofastick,〃ashisfostermothersaid,whenhewas

stillonlyalittleboy,andhisvoicewassosweetandcaughtthestrainofamelody

soquickly!Thatlittleheartwasattunedtomanyfineharmonieswhichmighthave

rungthroughouttheworldifhehadbeenplacedinalessnarrowhomethanthe

fisherman'shutneartheNorthSea.

Onedayaboxofrareflowerbulbsdriftedashoreafterashipwreck.Someweretaken

outandmadeintosoup,withtheideathattheymightbegoodtoeat;otherswere

justlefttorotinthesandandneverfulfilledtheirdestiny,neverunfoldedthe

gloriousbeautyofformandcolorthatlayhiddenwithinthem.Wouldsuchbethe

casewithJorgen?Lifewassoonoverfortheflowerbulbs,buthestillhadmany

yearstoliveandstruggle.

Itneveroccurredeithertohimorhisfosterparentsthattheirliveswerelonely

andmonotonous;dayswentby,andtherewasplentytodoandhearandsee.Theocean

itselfwasagreatbookoflessons;everydayitseemedtoturnoveranewpage,

stormorcalm.Ashipwreckwasanexcitingevent.Thevisittothechurchwasafestive

event.Twiceayearthefisherman，shuthadavisitor,andaverywelcomeone.This

wastheeelsellerfromFjaltring,upnearBovbjerg,whowasthebrotherofJ6rgen，s

fostermother.Hecamewitharedwagonfullofeels;itwasshutuplikeabox,

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andhadblueandwhitetulipspaintedonit.Itwasdrawnbytwoblackoxen,and

Jorgenwaspermittedtodrivethem.

Theeelmanhadagoodheadonhim.Hewasajollyguest;healwaysbroughtalittle

kegofschnapps,andeveryonehadadrinkofit,sometimesfromacoffeecup,if

therewerenotenoughglasses.EvenJorgen,littleashewas,hadathimbleful;that

wassohecoulddigestthefateels,saidtheeelman.Thenhewouldtellthemhis

oldstory,andwheneverheheardpeoplelaughatit,healwaysrepeateditatonce,

totheverysamepeople,asalltalkativefolksdo.AndasJorgenusedphrasesfrom

thisstorythroughouthisyouthandlaterinlife,wehadbetterlistentoit.

“Theeelsplayedoutintheriver,andMotherEelsaidtoherdaughters,whenthey

hadbeggedforpermissiontoexplorealittlewayupthestream,'Don'tgotoofar!

Thewickedmanwithhisspearwillcomeandcatchyouall!’Buttheydidgotoofar,

andoftheeightofthemonlythreereturnedtotheirmotherandwailedouttheir

story,'Wehadonlygonealittledistancebeyondthedoorwhentheuglymanwith

thespearcameandstabbedourfivesisterstodeath!J

〃'They'llcomeback,'saidtheeelmother.

〃'No,'saidthedaughters.’Forheskinnedthemandcutthemintobitsandfried

them.，

〃'They'llsurelycomeback,'saidtheeelmother.

〃‘Yes,butheatethem!5

〃JStillthey'llcomeback,'saidtheeelmother.

〃'Buthedrankschnappsafterwards!Jsaidthedaughters.

〃'Oh,my!Ohmy!’howledtheeelmother.’Thenthey，11neverreturn!Forschnapps

drownseels!5

“Andforthatveryreasonpeopleshouldalwaystakealittleschnappsaftereating

them,zzfinishedtheeelspearer.

Andthisstoryranlikeathreadofgoldtinsel-hismosthumorousrecollection

-throughthewebofJorgen5slife.Hetoowantedtogopastthethreshold,〃alittle

wayuptheriver,〃orratheroutintothewideworldinaship;buthisfostermother

objected,justasMotherEelhadobjected,“Therearesomanywickedmenwithspears.〃

Helongedtogoalittlepastthesanddunesintotheheath.Andatlasthedidfor

fourpleasantdays,thebrightestofhiswholechildhood;andhesawallofJutland's

happy,homelikebeautyandsunshine.Hewenttoaparty;itwasafuneralparty.

Awealthyrelativeofthefishermanhaddied;hisfarmwasfarinland,〃totheeast,

abitnortherly,zzasthesayinggoes.J6rgen，sfosterparentshadtogo,andthey

tookhimwiththem.Theypassedfromthedunesoverheathandswamptothegreen

pastureswheretheSkjaerumRiverhollowsoutitsbed-thatbrookfullofeels,

wherelivedMotherEelandherdaughterswhomthewickedpeoplespearedandcutin

pieces.Andhadn，tmenoftenactedjustascruellytowardtheirfellowmen?Thegood

knight,SirBugge,whosenamelivesintheoldsong,wasmurderedbywickedmen;

and,thoughhehimselfwascalled"good,〃heissaidtohavecomeveryclosetoslaying

thearchitectwhobuilthiscastle,withitstowerandthickwalls,ontheslope

wherethebrookSkjaerumfallsintotheNissumFiord,justwhereJorgennowstood

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withhisfosterparents.Therampartsandtheredcrumblingfragmentsofthewalls

couldstillbeseen.

ItwasherethatSirBugge,afterthearchitecthadleft,orderedoneofhismen

tofollowhim.〃Saytohim,'Master,thetowerleanstooneside.’Andifheturns

andlookstofindout,youmustslayhimandtakefromhimthemoneyIhavepaid

him;butifheturnsnot,lethimdepartinpeace.〃Themanobeyed,butthearchitect

didnotturn;ratherdidheanswerclearlyandboldly.〃Thetowerdoesnotlean,

forIhavebuiltitwell;butonedayamanshallcomefromtheWestinabluecloak,

andheshallmakeitlean.〃Andahundredyearslaterthiscametopass,forthe

NorthSeabrokeinandthetowercollapsed;butPredbjornGyldenstjerne,whoowned

thecastleatthattime,builtanewmansionontheslopehigherup;thisisstill

standing,andiscalledNorreVosborg.

Jorgenandhisfosterparentshadtopassthisplace,sonowhesawthisandother

spotsthathehadheardstoriesaboutinthelongwinterevenings.Hesawthecastle,

withitsdoublemoatschokedwithtreesandbushes,anditsrampartoverhungwith

bracken.Buttheloveliestsighttohimwerethetalllimetreesthatreachedright

uptotheroofandfilledtheairwithfragrance.Inthenorthwestcornerofthe

gardenstoodalargebus