“How can you venture into the woods so late?” I said--“you so slight and young?” She laughed, and said: “I am not so young--I am nineteen.” But she could not be nineteen; I am certain she was lying by at least two years, and was only seventeen. But why should she lie to seem older? “Sit down,” I said, “and tell me your name.” And she sat down, blushing, by my side, and told me her name was Henriette. Then I asked her: “Have you a lover, Henriette, and has he ever taken you in his arms?” “Yes,” she said, smiling shyly. “How many times?” She was silent. “How many times?” I asked her again. “Twice,” she answered softly. I drew her to me and said: “How did he do it? Was it like this?” “Yes,” she whispered, trembling. IX I had some talk with Edwarda. “We shall have rain before long,” I said. “What time is it?” she asked. I looked at the sun and answered: “About five.” She asked: “Can you tell so nearly by the sun?” “Yes,” I answered; “I can.” Pause. “But when you can't see the sun, how do you tell the time then?” “Then I can tell by other things. There's high tide and low tide, and the grass that lies over at certain hours, and the song of the birds that changes; some birds begin to sing when others leave off. Then, I can tell the time by flowers that close in the afternoon, and leaves that are bright green at some times and dull green at others--and then, besides, I can feel it.” “I see.” Now I was expecting rain, and for Edwarda's sake I would not keep her there any longer on the road; I raised my cap. But she stopped me suddenly with a new question, and I stayed. She blushed, and asked me why I had come to the place at all? Why I went out shooting, and why this and why that? For I never shot more than I needed for food, and left my dog idle... She looked flushed and humble. I understood that someone had been talking about me, and she had heard it; she was not speaking for herself. And something about her called up a feeling of tenderness in me; she looked so helpless, I remembered that she had no mother; her thin arms gave her an ill-cared-for appearance. I could not help feeling it so.