‘Only one glance! the last——’
* * * * * *
And little Helga stood outside in the verandah; but all the torches outside were extinguished, all the lights in the wedding chamber were gone, the storks were gone, no guests to be seen, no bridegroom; everything seemed to be blown away in three short minutes.
Then Helga was filled with terror, and she went through the great, empty hall, into the next room. Strange soldiers were sleeping there. She opened a side door that led into her apartment, and when she expected to stand there, she found herself outside in the garden; but it was not like this before—the heaven was red and shining, it was towards daybreak.
Only three minutes in Heaven, and a whole night had passed on the earth!
* * * * * *
Then she saw the storks; she cried to them, speaking their language, and father-stork turned his head, listened, and drew near her.
‘You are speaking our language!’ said he; ‘what do you want? Why do you come here, you strange woman?’
‘It is I! it is Helga! Don’t you know me? Three minutes ago we were talking together, yonder in the verandah.’
‘That is a mistake!’ said the stork; ‘you must have dreamt it!’