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fter her； and was now holdingher up to me。 We dried her clothes as well as we were able； andremained on the water till they were dry； for we did not wish it to beknown what a fright we had had； nor the danger which our littleadopted sister had incurred； in whose life Aphtanides had now a part。
The summer came； and the burning heat of the sun tinted the leavesof the trees with lines of gold。 I thought of our coolmountain…home； and the fresh water that flowed near it； my mother；too； longed for if； and one evening we wandered towards home。 Howpeaceful and silent it was as we walked on through the thick； wildthyme； still fragrant； though the sun had scorched the leaves。 Not asingle herdsman did we meet； not a solitary hut did we pass；everything appeared lonely and deserted… only a shooting star showedthat in the heavens there was yet life。 I know not whether theclear； blue atmosphere gleamed with its own light； or if theradiance came from the stars； but we could distinguish quite plainlythe outline of the mountains。 My mother lighted a fire； and roastedsome roots she had brought with her； and I and my little sisterslept among the bushes； without fear of the ugly smidraki； fromwhose throat issues fire； or of the wolf and the jackal； for my mothersat by us； and I considered her presence sufficient protection。
We reached our old home； but the cottage was in ruins； and wehad to build a new one。 With the aid of some neighbors； chiefly women；the walls were in a few days erected； and very soon covered with aroof of olive…branches。 My mother obtained a living by makingbottle…cases of bark and skins； and I kept the sheep belonging tothe priests； who were sometimes peasants； while I had for myplayfellows Anastasia and the turtles。
Once our beloved Aphtanides paid us a visit。 He said he had beenlonging to see us so much； and he remained with us two whole happydays。 A month afterwards he came again to wish us good…bye； andbrought with him a large fish for my mother。 He told us he was goingin a ship to Corfu and Patras； and could relate a great manystories； not only about the fishermen who lived near the gulf ofLepanto； but also of kings and heroes who had once possessed Greece；just as the Turks possess it now。
I have seen a bud on a rose…bush gradually； in the course of a fewweeks； unfold its leaves till it became a rose in all its beauty； and；before I was aware of it； I beheld it blooming in rosy loveliness。 Thesame thing had happened to Anastasia。 Unnoticed by me； she hadgradually bee a beautiful maiden； and I was now also a stout；strong youth。 The wolf…skins that covered the bed in which my motherand Anastasia slept； had been taken from wolves which I had myselfshot。
Years had gone by when； one evening； Aphtanides came in。 He hadgrown tall and slender as a reed； with strong limbs； and a dark； brownskin。 He kissed us all； and had so much to tell of what he had seen ofthe great ocean； of the fortifications at Malta； and of the marvelloussepulchres of Egypt； that I looked up to him with a kind ofveneration。 His stories were as strange as the legends of thepriests of olden times。
〃How much you know！〃 I exclaimed； 〃and what wonders you canrelate？〃
〃I think what you once told me； the finest of all；〃 he replied；〃you told me of a thing that has never been out of my thoughts… of thegood old custom of 'the bond of friendship；'… a custom I should liketo follow。 Brother； let you and I go to church； as your father andAnastasia's father once did。 Your sister Anastasia is the mostbeautiful and most innocent of maidens； and she shall consecrate thedeed。 No people have such grand old customs as we Greeks。〃
Anastasia blushed like a young rose； and my mother kissedAphtanides。
At about two miles from our cottage； where the earth on the hillis sheltered by a few scattered trees； stood the little church； with asilver lamp hanging before the altar。 I put on my best clothes； andthe white tunic fell in graceful folds over my hips。 The red jacketfitted tight and close； the tassel on my Fez cap was of silver； and inmy girdle glittered a knife and my pistols。 Aphtanides was clad in theblue dress worn by the Greek sailors； on his breast hung a silvermedal with the figure of the Virgin Mary； and his scarf was ascostly as those worn by rich lords。 Every one could see that we wereabout to perform a solemn ceremony。 When we entered the little；unpretending church； the evening sunlight streamed through the opendoor on the burning lamp； and glittered on the golden pictureframes。 We knelt down together on the altar steps； and Anastasiadrew near and stood beside us。 A long； white garment fell ingraceful folds over her delicate form； and on her white neck and bosomhung a chain entwined with old and new coins； forming a kind ofcollar。 Her black hair was fastened into a knot； and confined by aheaddress formed of gold and silver coins which had been found in anancient temple。 No Greek girl had more beautiful ornaments than these。Her countenance glowed； and her eyes were like two stars。 We all threeoffered a silent prayer； and then she said to us； 〃Will you be friendsin life and in death？〃
〃Yes；〃 we replied。
〃Will you each remember to say； whatever may happen； 'My brotheris a part of myself； his secret is my secret； my happiness is his；self…sacrifice； patience； everything belongs to me as they do tohim？'〃
And we again answered； 〃Yes。〃 Then she joined out hands and kissedus on the forehead； and we again prayed silently。 After this apriest came through a door near the altar； and blessed us all three。Then a song was sung by other holy men behind the altar…screen； andthe bond of eternal friendship was confirmed。 When we arose； I sawmy mother standing by the church door； weeping。
How cheerful everything seemed now in our little cottage by theDelphian springs！ On the evening before his departure； Aphtanidessat thoughtfully beside me on the slopes of the mountain。 His armwas flung around me； and mine was round his neck。 We spoke of thesorrows of Greece； and of the men of the country who could be trusted。Every thought of our souls lay clear before us。 Presently I seized hishand： 〃Aphtanides；〃 I exclaimed； 〃there is one thing still that youmust know；… one thing that till now has been a secret between myselfand Heaven。 My whole soul is filled with love；… with a love strongerthan the love I bear to my mother and to thee。
〃And whom do you love？〃 asked Aphtanides。 And his face and neckgrew red as fire。
〃I love Anastasia；〃 I replied。
Then his hand trembled in mine； and he became pale as a corpse。I saw it； I understood the cause； and I believe my hand trembledtoo。 I bent towards him； I kissed his forehead； and whispered； 〃I havenever spoken of this to her； and perhaps she does not love me。Brother； think of this； I have seen her daily； she has grown up besideme； and has bee a part of my soul。〃
〃And she shall be thine；〃 he exclaimed； 〃thine！ I may not wrongthee； nor will I do so。 I also love her； but tomorrow I depart。 In ayear we will see each other again； but then you will be married； shallit not be so？ I have a little gold of my own； it shall be yours。 Youmust and shall take it。〃
We wandered silently homeward across the mountains。 It was late inthe evening when we reached my mother's door。 Anastasia held thelamp as we entered； my mother was not there。 She looked atAphtanides with a sweet but mournful expression on her face。〃To…morrow you are going to leave us；〃 she said。 〃I am very sorry。〃
〃Sorry！〃 he exclaimed； and his voice was troubled with a griefas deep as my own。 I could not speak； but he seized her hand and said；〃Our brother yonder loves you； and is he not dear to you？ His verysilence now proves his affection。〃
Anastasia trembled； and burst into tears。 Then I saw no one；thought of none； but her。 I threw my arms round her； and pressed mylips to hers。 As she flung her arms round my neck； the lamp fell tothe ground； and we were in darkness； dark as the heart of poorAphtanides。
Before daybreak he rose； kissed us all； and said 〃Farewell；〃 andwent away。 He had given all his money to my mother for us。 Anastasiawas betrothed to me； and in a few days afterwards she became my wife。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSE