The Created Legend

them giddy. Suddenly the turrets of the old house vanished

ost our way," said

ay out," replied Elisaveta. "

sunburnt, handsome Kirsha. His dark, closely grown eyebrows and black w

do you come from?

th an attentive, direct, a

th, and you'll find yourselves where

Here and there flowers were visible-small, white, odorous flowers. They emitted a strange, pu

led, ugly grass. At the foot of the mound was a rusty do

t cold, dampness, and fear. A long dark passage became discernible. Kirsha pressed a spot near the door

s of light remained a mystery. The walls themselves seemed to radiate. The light

t for some unknown reason. A kind of weight seemed to fetter their limbs. The passage inclined slightly downwards. They walked on like this a long time. It grew hotter and damper the farther they ad

Their legs now moved more slowly

sible to walk," wh

ed to be no end to the narrow winding passage; the two sisters felt as though t

mist rose before their eyes. Still the

was an open door, a shaft of white, exultan

air was very humid, very oppressive. The glass walls intersected by iron bars let through much light.

and made her forget herself. The blue-green glass sky of the greenhouse flung down sparks and heat. The cruel Dragon re

n in the passage," said Elisaveta.

happy smile. She was enjoying the pink and

ds the door leading to the garden.

ng? Here is a benc

outside the greenhouse. His manner of

sted in this house and its owner. Well, if

Elisaveta calml

e belonged to a relative, but it was left abando

," said Trirodov quietly, "but th

veta, "when you decided to settle here. The

oice put them wholly at ease. They continued to walk and to observe. But they felt conscious that another life, intimate yet remote, hovered round them all the while. Sounds of music came to the

dark there, a number of small boys and girls, dressed in white, had formed a ring and were dancing. As the sisters approached them the children disperse

uietly murmuring fountains, its picturesque arbours, its profusely gay flower-beds. They felt a keen elation at having penetrated this myst

e room of the hous

strang

" said Trirodo

r was concave, the corners were round, upon the walls were incomprehensible pictures and unf

ok at oneself," said Trirodov. "Only you have to stand

nkled faces were reflected in it. Elena cried out in fright.

she said, "it's a t

t her and crie

quite old-grey-ha

mirror, crying

it? Wha

was agitated, and tried to hide her confusion. Trirodov looked at th

Elena. "I'll give you

ena quickly drank the sour-sweet water, and suddenly felt cheerfu

," she exclaimed

, embraced Elisaveta

Elisaveta, hav

to dance and to twirl round the room. Then they suddenly felt ashamed. They stopped,

e are! You think us r

led in a fri

place," he observed. "Terror

d of hoary antiquity; engravings of a strange and disturbing character; variegated stones, turquoise, pearls; ugly, amorphous, a

e many things there that one could play with, and thus i

ad spent only two hours here. It is impossible to measure time. One hour is an age, anot

Elena. "How long we've spent here.

ng a little late

we?" sa

eta ex

er is strictly ke

a cart read

nly felt sad and tired. They bade their host good-bye and left him. T

han they saw a soft couch, and a fatigue so poignant sudde

t down,"

, "I too am tired. How s

down. Elisavet

a living light, and it is terrifying-but the stern face of the mo

ly sun,"

luminary, and in the depth of subterranean passages, freed from the scorchin

whis

h grows cold,

die," answered Elisa

and when both awakened quite suddenly, everything that

me," said Elena i

, stood a cart. Kirsha sat in it and held the reins. The sisters seated themselves. Elisaveta took

a was off before they realized that they had not thanked him. When they looked for him they could