And as the child listened, a great longing came over her to fly with the swallows to the bright unknown land whither they were bound.
“Swallows, swallows, I want to go to the sunshine and flowers. Can’t you take me with you?”
And the swallows chanted again:
“Can you trust the unseen power?
Dare you fly out into space?
Dare you leave the known behind you?
Have you faith to fly away?”
Winifred clasped her hands and leaned out more and more, gazing at the flying swallows.
“Oh, please stop! Please one of you stop and tell me some more. I want to fly with you. I have to go away one day, I don’t know where. I should like to go with you, if you’ll take me. Do please tell me when you are going, and please wait and take me too. I want to fly with you.”
And then suddenly one of the swallows did stop, and perched upon the ledge of the open window; and Winifred found that it was a beautiful black, glossy bird, as big as herself, and yet she was not a bit surprised or afraid.
“Dear swallow,” she said, stroking the bird’s soft, feathery head, “dear, pretty swallow, won’t you let me fly away with you?”
“Why do you want to fly?” asked the swallow.
“I want to know where you are going. I want to know why you go; I have to go away too, very soon. I should like best to go with you.”