"Silly boy!" she said, laughing. "I will find the book for you—I know where it is."
"But then I must go and get the key, and it is far away."
"No, no, you need not. I will find it without a key—to-morrow—I promise you."
On their way home, the little butterflies flitted back and forth in front of them.
Johannes dreamed of his father that night—of Robinetta, and of many others. They were all good friends, and they stood near looking at him cordially, and trustfully. Yet later, their faces changed. They grew cold and ironical. He looked anxiously around; on all sides were fierce, hostile faces. He felt a nameless distress, and waked up weeping.
IX
Johannes had already sat a long while, waiting. The air was chilly, and great clouds were drifting close above the earth in endless, majestic succession. They spread out sombre, wide-waving mantles, and reared their haughty heads toward the clear light that shone above them. Sunlight and shadow chased each other swiftly over the trees, like flickering flames. Johannes was in an anxious state of mind, thinking about the book; not believing that he should really find it that day. Between the clouds—much higher—awfully high, he saw an expanse of clear blue sky; and upon it, stretched out in motionless calm, were delicate, white, plume-like clouds.
"It ought be like that," he thought. "So high, so bright, so still!"
Then came Robinetta. The robin was not with her.