Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume X).djvu/123

Rh again, we were floating smoothly once more just above the earth, so that we caught our feet in the tops of the tall grass. 'Put me on my feet,' I began. 'What pleasure is there in flying? I'm not a bird.' 'I thought you would like it. We have no other pastime.' 'You? Then what are you?' There was no answer.

'You don't dare to tell me that?' The plaintive sound which had awakened me the first night quivered in my ears. Meanwhile we were still, scarcely perceptibly, moving in the damp night air. 'Let me go!' I said. My companion moved slowly away, and I found myself on my feet. She stopped before me and again folded her hands. I grew more composed and looked into her face; as before it expressed submissive sadness. 'Where are we?' I asked. I did not recognise the country about me. 'Far from your home, but you can be there in an instant.' 'How can that be done? by trusting myself to you again?' 'I have done you no harm and will do you none. Let us fly till dawn, that is all. I can bear you away wherever you fancy — to the