Page:Pan's Garden.djvu/539

 whispering, 'because they were crying to get at you. And unless I brought them⁠—unless they came through me,' she stopped abruptly, her eyes grew moist, she was on the verge of tears 'it would have been so terrible for you, I mean⁠—'

He stiffened as he heard it. He made a violent effort at control, stopping her further explanation.

'And you weren't afraid⁠—to go out like this into the dark?' he asked, more to cover retreat than because he wanted to hear the reply.

'I put my Self out for you,' she answered simply. 'I let them come in. That way you couldn't get hurt. In me they had to come gently. They were an army. Only, nothing out of me could hurt you, Uncle.' She suddenly put her arms about his neck and kissed him. 'Oh, Uncle Dick, it was lucky I was there and ready, wasn't it?'

And Eliot, remembering that great Disturbance in the woods, pressed the child tenderly to himself, praying that she might not understand his heart too well, nor feel the cold that made his entire body tremble like a leaf. He had thought of an angry animal Presence lurking in the darkness. It had been bigger than that, and a thousand times more dangerous!

'You see,' she added with a little gasp for breath when he released her, 'they waked me up on purpose. I dressed at an awful rate. I got to the door⁠—I remember that perfectly well⁠—and then⁠—' An expression of bewilderment came into her face again.

'Yes,' he helped her, 'and then⁠—what?'

'Well, I forget exactly; but something stopped me. Something came all round me and took me in their arms. It was like arms of wind. I was