sohefondlyhoped;thereforethechimneysmokedandthefirecrackledsoconstantly.yes,iwastheretoo,"saidthewind."'leaveitalone,'isangdownthechimney;'leaveitalone,itwillallendinsmoke,air,coals,andashes,andyouwillburnyourfingers.'butwaldemardaadidnotleaveitalone,andallhepossessedvanishedlikesmokeblownbyme.thesplendidblackhorses,wherearethey?whatbecameofthecowsinthefield,theoldgoldandsilvervesselsincupboardsandchests,andeventhehouseandhomeitself?itwaseasytomeltalltheseawayinthegold-makingcrucible,andyetobtainnogold.andsoitwas.emptyarethebarnsandstore-rooms,thecellarsandcupboards;theservantsdecreasedinnumber,andthemicemultiplied.firstonewindowbecamebroken,andthenanother,sothaticouldgetinatotherplacesbesidesthedoor.'wherethechimneysmokes,themealisbeingcooked,'saystheproverb;buthereachimneysmokedthatdevouredallthemealsforthesakeofgold.iblewroundthecourtyard,"saidthewind,"likeawatchmanblowinghishome,butnowatchmanwasthere.itwirledtheweather-cockroundonthesummitofthetower,anditcreakedlikethesnoringofawarder,butnowarderwasthere;nothingbutmiceandrats.povertylaidthetable-cloth;povertysatinthewardrobeandinthelarder.thedoorfelloffitshinges,cracksandfissuresmadetheirappearanceeverywhere;sothaticouldgoinandoutatpleasure,andthatishowiknowallaboutit.amidsmokeandashes,sorrow,andsleeplessnights,thehairandbeardofthemasterofthehouseturnedgray,anddeepfurrowsshowedthemselvesaroundhistemples;hisskinturnedpaleandyellow,whilehiseyesstilllookedeagerlyforgold,thelonged-forgold,andtheresultofhislaborwasdebtinsteadofgain.iblewthesmokeandashesintohisfaceandbeard;imoanedthroughthebrokenwindow-panes,andtheyawningcleftsinthewalls;iblewintothechestsanddrawersbelongingtohisdaughters,whereinlaytheclothesthathadbecomefadedandthreadbare,frombeingwornoverandoveragain.suchasonghadnotbeensung,atthechildren'scradleasisungnow.thelordlylifehadchangedtoalifeofpenury.iwastheonlyonewhorejoicedaloudinthatcastle,"saidthewind."atlastisnowedthemup,andtheysaysnowkeepspeoplewarm.itwasgoodforthem,fortheyhadnowood,andtheforest,fromwhichtheymighthaveobtainedit,hadbeencutdown.thefrostwasverybitter,andirushedthroughloop-holesandpassages,overgablesandroofswithkeenandcuttingswiftness.thethreehigh-borndaughterswerelyinginbedbecauseofthecold,andtheirfathercrouchingbeneathhisleathercoverlet.nothingtoeat,nothingtoburn,nofireonthehearth!herewasalifeforhigh-bornpeople!'giveitup,giveitup!'butmylorddaawouldnotdothat.'afterwinter,springwillcome,'hesaid,'afterwant,goodtimes.wemustnotlosepatience,wemustlearntowait.nowmyhorsesandlandsareallmortgaged,itisindeedhightime;butgoldwillcomeatlast-ateaster.'

"iheardhimashethusspoke;hewaslookingataspider'sweb,andhecontinued,'thoucunninglittleweaver,thoudostteachmeperseverance.letanyonetearthyweb,andthouwiltbeginagainandrepairit.letitbeentirelydestroyed,thouwiltresolutelybegintomakeanothertillitiscompleted.sooughtwetodo,ifwewishtosucceedatlast.'

"itwasthemorningofeaster-day.thebellssoundedfromtheneighboringchurch,andthesunseemedtorejoiceinthesky.themasterofthecastlehadwatchedthroughthenight,infeverishexcitement,andhadbeenmeltingandcooling,distillingandmixing.iheardhimsighinglikeasoulindespair;iheardhimpraying,andinoticedhowheheldhisbreath.thelampburntout,buthedidnotobserveit.iblewupthefireinthecoalsonthehearth,anditthrewaredglowonhisghastlywhiteface,lightingitupwithaglare,whilehissunkeneyeslookedoutwildlyfromtheircavernousdepths,andappearedtogrowlargerandmoreprominent,asiftheywouldburstfromtheirsockets.'lookatthealchymicglass,'hecried;'somethingglowsinthecrucible,pureandheavy.'helifteditwithatremblinghand,andexclaimedinavoiceofagitation,'gold!