The Hungry Stones | Page 5

sitting in an arm-chair near the
water's edge below the steps. The Susta had shrunk and sunk low; a
broad patch of sand on the other side glowed with the hues of evening;
on this side the pebbles at the bottom of the clear shallow waters were
glistening. There was not a breath of wind anywhere, and the still air
was laden with an oppressive scent from the spicy shrubs growing on
the hills close by.
As the sun sank behind the hill-tops a long dark curtain fell upon the
stage of day, and the intervening hills cut short the time in which light
and shade mingle at sunset. I thought of going out for a ride, and was
about to get up when I heard a footfall on the steps behind. I looked
back, but there was no one.
As I sat down again, thinking it to be an illusion, I heard many footfalls,
as if a large number of persons were rushing down the steps. A strange
thrill of delight, slightly tinged with fear, passed through my frame, and
though there was not a figure before my eyes, methought I saw a bevy
of joyous maidens coming down the steps to bathe in the Susta in that
summer evening. Not a sound was in the valley, in the river, or in the
palace, to break the silence, but I distinctly heard the maidens' gay and
mirthful laugh, like the gurgle of a spring gushing forth in a hundred
cascades, as they ran past me, in quick playful pursuit of each other,
towards the river, without noticing me at all. As they were invisible to
me, so I was, as it were, invisible to them. The river was perfectly calm,

but I felt that its still, shallow, and clear waters were stirred suddenly
by the splash of many an arm jingling with bracelets, that the girls
laughed and dashed and spattered water at one another, that the feet of
the fair swimmers tossed the tiny waves up in showers of pearl.
I felt a thrill at my heart--I cannot say whether the excitement was due
to fear or delight or curiosity. I had a strong desire to see them more
clearly, but naught was visible before me; I thought I could catch all
that they said if I only strained my ears; but however hard I strained
them, I heard nothing but the chirping of the cicadas in the woods. It
seemed as if a dark curtain of 250 years was hanging before me, and I
would fain lift a corner of it tremblingly and peer through, though the
assembly on the other side was completely enveloped in darkness.
The oppressive closeness of the evening was broken by a sudden gust
of wind, and the still surface of the Suista rippled and curled like the
hair of a nymph, and from the woods wrapt in the evening gloom there
came forth a simultaneous murmur, as though they were awakening
from a black dream. Call it reality or dream, the momentary glimpse of
that invisible mirage reflected from a far-off world, 250 years old,
vanished in a flash. The mystic forms that brushed past me with their
quick unbodied steps, and loud, voiceless laughter, and threw
themselves into the river, did not go back wringing their dripping robes
as they went. Like fragrance wafted away by the wind they were
dispersed by a single breath of the spring.
Then I was filled with a lively fear that it was the Muse that had taken
advantage of my solitude and possessed me--the witch had evidently
come to ruin a poor devil like myself making a living by collecting
cotton duties. I decided to have a good dinner--it is the empty stomach
that all sorts of incurable diseases find an easy prey. I sent for my cook
and gave orders for a rich, sumptuous moghlai dinner, redolent of
spices and ghi.
Next morning the whole affair appeared a queer fantasy. With a light
heart I put on a sola hat like the sahebs, and drove out to my work. I
was to have written my quarterly report that day, and expected to return
late; but before it was dark I was strangely drawn to my house--by what
I could not say--I felt they were all waiting, and that I should delay no
longer. Leaving my report unfinished I rose, put on my sola hat, and
startling the dark, shady, desolate path with the rattle of my carriage, I

reached the vast silent palace standing on the gloomy skirts of the hills.
On the first floor the stairs led to a very spacious hall, its roof
stretching wide over ornamental arches resting on three rows of
massive pillars, and groaning day and night under the