Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/30

 plot. The plot brought the avenue suddenly to an end, and, farther on, stretched uninterruptedly up to the shrubs at the margin of the hill. It was, therefore, just possible that the beginning of the slope might belong to my landlady, and that the suddenly broken avenue only waited for the finishing touches, which, when the ground had been fully laid out, would join it to the pathway leading to the house; consequently I thought that "the shady promenade" might be down there.

In my own mind I apologised to the woman for having made fun of her and for having been so unbelieving, and I decided at once to make use of my highly valued privilege as a lodger to walk "da'rim und dort'nim."

I did not go towards the birch avenue, but went across to the coppice of hazel and may. The grass, filled with daisies and buttercups, peeped through all the openings of the scattered bushes, and extended up to a gravelled path. On the other side of this path the grass-covered slope led, rather precipitously, down to the small valley that was covered with fir and birch wood, while to the right the gravelled path was soon transformed into a modest foot-track which lost itself amongst the fir trees. I turned to the left so that I might make myself acquainted with the grounds.

I had hardly walked more than a few steps before I stood in front of a small grotto. Here the underlying stone was apparent, but for the most part one only saw turf and sand on this hill; the rock was overhanging as if it had run its head through the soil, and the sides were bent forward like two prominent shoulders, in this way forming, nearly all day, a natural shelter from the sun. A table and a couple of garden seats were placed here, and in the middle of the wall was painted "Sophien Ruhe."