"Aria," she said, "Aria."
"Yes, dear, what is it?"
"It's come again, the third time," she exclaimed joyously. "My dream! Quite the same as before, only that the old woman just smiled at me, and said, 'Once more, then ask the robin.' Aria, darling, it must mean something."
And Aria herself was impressed.
"But where are we—or you—to find the robin?" she questioned.
"You're forgetting about the feathers, and the mysterious path," replied Linde.
She had carefully wrapped up the tiny treasures and hidden them in the front of her frock. The knowledge that she had them safely there seemed to give her courage and hope. That Saturday's sale was again a great success, and on the following day, as on the Sunday before, when they returned from church and their simple mid-day dinner was over, Linde told her sister that she was going to the forest. This time she scarcely asked Aria's leave, and though the elder girl was a little anxious, she felt that it would have been useless to attempt to stop her.
"Very well, darling," she said. "But don't go very far or stay very long. Promise me."
Linde considered.
"I think I can promise," she said, "to be back by sundown. But, Aria, I believe I may have to go again much farther, or to do—I know not what—but feelings are coming to me," and she unconsciously touched the place where the redbreast feathers were nestling. "You won't forbid it, sister, will you?"