До Адама

           AsIpursuedher,orsometimesrestedinanadjoiningtreeandwatchedher,Inoticedthechangeinher.Shewaslarger,heavier,moregrown-up.Herlineswererounder,hermusclesfuller,andtherewasaboutherthatindefinitesomethingofmaturitythatwasnewtoherandthatincitedmeon.Threeyearsshehadbeengone—threeyearsattheveryleast,andthechangeinherwasmarked.Isaythreeyears;itisasnearasIcanmeasurethetime.Afourthyearmayhaveelapsed,whichIhaveconfusedwiththehappeningsoftheotherthreeyears.ThemoreIthinkofit,themoreconfidentIamthatitmustbefouryearsthatshewasaway.

           Whereshewent,whyshewent,andwhathappenedtoherduringthattime,Idonotknow.Therewasnowayforhertotellme,anymorethantherewasawayforLop-EarandmetotelltheFolkwhatwehadseenwhenwewereaway.Likeus,thechanceisshehadgoneoffonanadventure-journey,andbyherself.Ontheotherhand,itispossiblethatRed-Eyemayhavebeenthecauseofhergoing.Itisquitecertainthathemusthavecomeuponherfromtimetotime,wanderinginthewoods;andifhehadpursuedherthereisnoquestionbutthatitwouldhavebeensufficienttodriveheraway.Fromsubsequentevents,Iamledtobelievethatshemusthavetravelledfartothesouth,acrossarangeofmountainsanddowntothebanksofastrangeriver,awayfromanyofherkind.ManyTreePeopleliveddownthere,andIthinkitmusthavebeentheywhofinallydroveherbacktothehordeandtome.MyreasonsforthisIshallexplainlater.