'Are you very heavy, sir?'
'For my inches I scale a good deal, Lotty.'
'Well, you must walk round by the white stones yonder. All the centre is a moving bog, you know. It bears my weight and Wallace's easily, and we like to swing up and down on the turf. You'll see me swing in a minute. But you might go through, then you would sink down and down and down among the black slime, and not be seen again, never, never, never!'
'A very pretty prospect indeed, Lotty; but I think I'll go round by the stones. I have rather an interest in myself.'
Lotty had her swing on the green, moving turf that covered the awful abyss, and appeared to enjoy it very much; but presently they met again on the other side. Antony paused for a moment to gaze into the star-depths.
'How beautiful!' he murmured.
'Are you very hungry, sir?' asked matter-of-fact Lotty.
'I could do with a bit of supper, I believe.'
'Because,' said Lotty, 'the light you see up yonder comes from Crona's cottage. Crona is a witch; but she loves me, and often, when I am hungry, she gives me milk to drink and sometimes an egg.'
'Well, by all means let us see this witch-friend of yours. Is she very terrible, Lotty?'