andthefishesstared.theythoughtthatthewholeswarmofpeoplewhomtheyhadseeninthebrightdaylightwerestillmovingaroundthem;theywerecertaintheystillsawthesameformsthathadfirstcaughttheirattention.

aprettybarbel,withspottedskin,andanenviablyroundback,declaredthatthe"humanfry"werestillthere.

"icanseeawellset-uphumanfigurequitewell,"saidthebarbel."shewascalled'contumaciouslady,'orsomethingofthatkind.shehadamouthandstaringeyes,likeours,andagreatballoonatthebackofherhead,andsomethinglikeashut-upumbrellainfront;therewerealotofdanglingbitsofseaweedhangingabouther.sheoughttotakealltherubbishoff,andgoaswedo;thenshewouldlooksomethinglikearespectablebarbel,sofarasitispossibleforapersontolooklikeone!"

"what'sbecomeofthatonewhomtheydrewawaywiththehook?hesatonawheel-chair,andhadpaper,andpen,andink,andwrotedowneverything.theycalledhima'writer.'"

"they'regoingaboutwithhimstill,"saidahoaryoldmaidofacarp,whocarriedhermisfortuneaboutwithher,sothatshewasquitehoarse.inheryouthshehadonceswallowedahook,andstillswampatientlyaboutwithitinhergullet."awriter?thatmeans,aswefishesdescribeit,akindofcuttleorink-fishamongmen."

thusthefishesgossippedintheirownway;butintheartificialwater-grottothelaborerswerebusy;whowereobligedtotakeadvantageofthehoursofnighttogettheirworkdonebydaybreak.theyaccompaniedwithblowsoftheirhammersandwithsongsthepartingwordsofthevanishingdryad.

"so,atanyrate,ihaveseenyou,youprettygold-fishes,"shesaid."yes,iknowyou;"andshewavedherhandtothem."ihaveknownaboutyoualongtimeinmyhome;theswallowtoldmeaboutyou.howbeautifulyouare!howdelicateandshining!ishouldliketokisseveryoneofyou.youothers,also.iknowyouall;butyoudonotknowme."

thefishesstaredoutintothetwilight.theydidnotunderstandawordofit.

thedryadwastherenolonger.shehadbeenalongtimeintheopenair,wherethedifferentcountries-thecountryofblackbread,thecodfishcoast,thekingdomofrussialeather,andthebanksofeau-de-cologne,andthegardensofroseoil-exhaledtheirperfumesfromtheworld-wonderflower.

when,afteranightataball,wedrivehomehalfasleepandhalfawake,themelodiesstillsoundplainlyinourears;wehearthem,andcouldsingthemallfrommemory.whentheeyeofthemurderedmancloses,thepictureofwhatitsawlastclingstoitforatimelikeaphotographicpicture.

soitwaslikewisehere.thebustlinglifeofdayhadnotyetdisappearedinthequietnight.thedryadhadseenit;sheknew,thusitwillberepeatedtomorrow.

thedryadstoodamongthefragrantroses,andthoughtsheknewthem,andhadseentheminherownhome.shealsosawredpomegranateflowers,likethosethatlittlemaryhadworninherdarkhair.

remembrancesfromthehomeofherchildhoodflashedthroughherthoughts;hereyeseagerlydrankintheprospectaround,andfeverishrestlessnesschasedherthroughthewonder-filledhalls.

awearinessthatincreasedcontinually,tookpossessionofher.shefeltalongingtorestonthesoftorientalcarpetswithin,ortoleanagainsttheweepingwillowwithoutbytheclearwater.butfortheephemeralflytherewasnorest.inafewmomentsthedayhadcompleteditscircle.

herthoughtstrembled,herlimbstrembled,shesankdownonthegrassbythebubblingwater.

"thouwilteverspringlivingfromtheearth,"shesaidmournfully."moistenmytongue-bringmearefreshingdraught."

"iamnolivingwater,"wastheanswer."ionlyspringupwardwhenthemachinewillsit."

"givemesomethingofthyfreshness,thougreengrass,"imploredthedryad;"givemeoneofthyfragrantflowers."

"wemustdieifwearetornfromourstalks,"repliedtheflowersandthegrass.

"givemeakiss,thoufreshstreamofair-onlyasinglelife-kiss."

"soonthesunwillkissthecloudsred,"answeredthewind;"thenthouwiltbeamongthedead-blownaway,asallthesplendorherewillbeblownawaybeforetheyearshallhaveended.thenicanplayagainwiththelightloosesandontheplacehere,andwhirlthedustoverthelandandthroughtheair.allisdust!"