I wondered at finding a human dwelling in this neighbourhood; and yet it did not look altogether human, though sufficiently so to encourage me to expect to find some sort of food.

Seeing no door, I went round to the other side, and there I found one, wide open.

A woman sat beside it, preparing some vegetables for dinner.

This was homely and comforting.

As I came near, she looked up, and seeing me, showed no surprise, but bent her head again over her work, and said in a low tone: "Did you see my daughter ?" "I believe I did," said I."Can you give me something to eat, for I am very hungry ?" "With pleasure," she replied, in the same tone; "but do not say anything more, till you come into the house, for the Ash is watching us." Having said this, she rose and led the way into the cottage; which, I now saw, was built of the stems of small trees set closely together, and was furnished with rough chairs and tables, from which even the bark had not been removed.