At the side of Lona's couch, he looked down on her with a questioning smile, and then greeted me across it.
"We have been to the top of the hill to hear the waters on their way," he said.

"They will be in the den of the monsters to-night .-- But why did you not await our return ?" "My child could not sleep," I answered.
"She is fast asleep!" he rejoined.
"Yes, now!" I said; "but she was awake when I laid her down." "She was asleep all the time!" he insisted.

"She was perhaps dreaming about you--and came to you ?" "She did." "And did you not see that her eyes were closed ?" "Now I think of it, I did." "If you had looked ere you laid her down, you would have seen her asleep on the couch." "That would have been terrible!" "You would only have found that she was no longer in your arms." "That would have been worse!" "It is, perhaps, to think of; but to see it would not have troubled you." "Dear father," I said, "how is it that I am not sleepy?
I thought I should go to sleep like the Little Ones the moment I laid my head down!" "Your hour is not quite come.

You must have food ere you sleep." "Ah, I ought not to have lain down without your leave, for I cannot sleep without your help! I will get up at once!" But I found my own weight more than I could move.
"There is no need: we will serve you here," he answered.

"-- You do not feel cold, do you ?" "Not too cold to lie still, but perhaps too cold to eat!" He came to the side of my couch, bent over me, and breathed on my heart.
At once I was warm.
As he left me, I heard a voice, and knew it was the Mother's.