Веснянки
Chapter III
Inhisworktherewasexerciseforeverymuscleofhisbodyeachhouroftheday,atnightabath,wholesomefood,andsoundsleepinaroomthatneverknewfire.Hehadgainedfleshandcolor,anddevelopedagreaterstrengthandendurancethananyoneevercouldhaveguessed.
NordidtheLimberlostcontainlastyear’sterrors.Hehadbeenwithherinherhourofdesolation,whenstrippedbareanddeserted,shehadstoodshivering,asifherselfafraid.Hehadmadeexcursionsintotheinterioruntilhewasfamiliarwitheverypathandroadthateverhadbeencut.Hehadsoundedthedepthsofherdeepestpools,andhadlearnedwhythetreesgrewsomagnificently.Hehadfoundthatplacesofswampandswalewerefewcomparedwithmilesofsolidtimber-land,concealedbysummer’sluxuriantundergrowth.
Thesoundsthatatfirsthadstruckcoldfearintohissoulhenowknewhadleftonwingandsilentfootattheapproachofwinter.Asflockafterflockofthebirdsreturnedandherecognizedtheoldechoesreawakening,hefoundtohissurprisethathehadbeenlonelyforthemandwashailingtheirreturnwithgreatjoy.Allhisfearswereforgotten.
