human
I was told once, she said,
gpt
She said the last words wistfully, as though reluctant to part with an illusion.
human
And I suppose, she went on,
gpt
No, I said;
human
I should like to hear of them some time, she said,
gpt
Oh, I shall tell you anything you want to hear, I replied;
human
Yes, that is true, she assented;
gpt
You have always lived there?
human
No, she said, briefly.
gpt
I remember to have lived at another place, but that is very long ago and does not matter.
human
I shall have to leave you, she said, all at once;
gpt
Do you take care of the cow?
human
Oh, Moira does generally! she replied carelessly.
gpt
She, you know, is our little maid-of-all-work. Sometimes I do myself, though; for I love poor Cusha, and I like to pat her silky back and play with her long ears. She hasn't any horns. But she wouldn't hurt me if she had; for, you see, she knows me, and puts down her head for me to pet, and lows when she sees me coming. She is a very wise cow. I wish she could talk.
human
I wonder what her conversation would be like?
gpt
Oh, I know!
human
You do? Well, let me hear it!
gpt
She'd talk about the sweet green clover and the grass and the fields, where she has lived; and about the hills, for she's been up here a great many years. She was born before I was, and she looks at everything with her big brown eyes as if she were thinking about them. She might be able to tell if there were any fairies or things of that kind; for she's out sometimes in the moonlight, or at dusk and in the early morning, too, when people say they pass by.
human
You mustn't believe all the people tell you, I answered, though I was half sorry for the suggestion when I saw how her face clouded over.
gpt
Their tales might be like the golden streets and the silver birds.
human
I wonder if she knows anything about what he is trying to find out, what he _has_ found out?
gpt
Who?
human
Some one, she said, evasively.
gpt
Oh, the bell is tinkling again. Cusha might get lost. Good-by! And come soon to the castle. I will show you every bit of it and tell you _true_ things about it.