Soon they were laughing and joking like old friends. When he offered to carry her basket, she gave it to him although her knife was in it because he told her his rifle would protect them. As the day darkened, it began to snow again; she felt the first flakes settle on her eyelashes but now there was only half a mile to go and there would be a fire, and hot tea, and a wele, a warm one surely, for the dashing huntsman as well as for herself.
This young man had a remarkable obje his pocket. It was a pass. She looked at the little round glassfa the palm of his hand and watched the wavering needle with a vague wonder. He assured her this pass had taken him safely through the wood on his hunting trip because the needle always told him with perfect accuracy where the north was. She did not believe it; she knew she should never leave the path on the way through the wood or else she would be lost instantly. He laughed at her again; gleaming trails of spittle g to his teeth. He said, if he plunged off the path into the forest that surrouhem, he would guarao arrive at her grandmothers house a good quarter of an hour before she did, plotting his way through the undergrowth with his pass, while she trudged the long way, along the winding path.
I dont believe you. Besides, arent you afraid of the wolves?
He only tapped the gleaming butt of his rifle and grinned.
Is it a bet? he asked her. Shall we make a game of it? What will you give me if I get to yrandmothers house before you?
What would you like? she asked disingenuously.
A kiss.
onplaces of a rustic sedu; she lowered her eyes and blushed.
He went through the undergrowth and took her basket with him but she fot to be afraid of the beasts, although now the moon was rising, for she wao dawdle on her way to make sure the handsome gentleman would win his wager.
Grandmothers house stood by itself a little way out of the village. The freshly falling snow blew in eddies about the kit garden and the young man stepped delicately up the snowy path to the door as if he were relut to get his feet wet, swinging his bundle of game and the girls basket and humming a little tuo himself.
There is a faint trace of blood on his ; he has been snag on his catch.
He rapped upon the panels with his knuckles.
Aged and frail, granny is three-quarters succumbed to the mortality the ache in her bones promises her and almost ready to give iirely. A boy came out from the village to build up her hearth for the night an ho and the kit crackles with busy firelight. She has her Bible for pany, she is a pious old woman. She is propped up on several pillows in the bed set into the easant-fashion, ed up ichwork quilt she made before she was married, more years ago than she cares to remember. Two a spaniels with liver-coloured blotches on their coats and blaoses sit oher side of the fireplace. There is a bright rug of woven rags on the pahe grandfather clock ticks away her eroding time.
We keep the wolves outside by living well.
He rapped upon the panels with his hairy knuckles.
It is yranddaughter, he mimicked in a high soprano.
Lift up the latd walk in, my darling.
You tell them by their eyes, eyes of a beast of prey, noal, devastating eyes as red as a wound; you hurl your Bible at him and your apron after, granny, you thought that was a sure prophylactic against these infernal vermin. . . now call on Christ and his mother a