“I will go in,” he said; “there is nothing to prevent me.” He set his foot on the step of the door, and while he hesitated Mopsa came out to meet him.
“Jack,” she said, in a sweet mournful tone of voice. But he could not make any answer; he only looked at her earnestly, because her lovely eyes were not looking at him, but far away towards the west.
“He lives there,” she said, as if speaking to herself. “He will play there again, in his father’s garden.”
Then she brought her eyes down slowly from the rose-flush in the cloud, and looked at him and said, “Jack.”
“Yes,” said Jack; “I am here. What is it that you wish to say?”
She answered, “I am come to give you back your kiss.”
So she stooped forward as she stood on the step, and kissed him, and her tears fell on his cheek.
“Farewell!” she said, and she turned and went up the steps and into the great hall; and while Jack gazed at her as she entered, and would fain have followed, but could not stir, the great doors closed together again, and he was left outside.
SO SHE STOOPED FORWARD AS SHE STOOD ON THE STEP.