You will come back to me some day, I know.

But I beg you, for my sake, my dear child, to do one thing.

In whatever sorrow you may be, however inconsolable and irremediable it may appear, believe me that the old woman in the cottage, with the young eyes" (and she smiled), "knows something, though she must not always tell it, that would quite satisfy you about it, even in the worst moments of your distress.

Now you must go." "But how can I go, if the waters are all about, and if the doors all lead into other regions and other worlds ?" "This is not an island," she replied; "but is joined to the land by a narrow neck; and for the door, I will lead you myself through the right one." She took my hand, and led me through the third door; whereupon I found myself standing in the deep grassy turf on which I had landed from the little boat, but upon the opposite side of the cottage.

She pointed out the direction I must take, to find the isthmus and escape the rising waters.
Then putting her arms around me, she held me to her bosom; and as I kissed her, I felt as if I were leaving my mother for the first time, and could not help weeping bitterly.