Lilith

"Then take care not to go near her. She is called the Cat−woman. She is awfully ugly−−AND SCRATCHES."
As soon as the bigger ones stopped, the smaller had begun to run back. The others now looked at me gravely
for a moment, and then walked slowly away. Last to leave me, Lona held up the baby to be kissed, gazed in
my eyes, whispered, "The Cat−woman will not hurt YOU," and went without another word. I stood a while,
gazing after them through the moonlight, then turned and, with a heavy heart, began my solitary journey.
Soon the laughter of the Little Ones overtook me, like sheep−bells innumerable, rippling the air, and echoing
in the rocks about me. I turned again, and again gazed after them: they went gamboling along, with never a
care in their sweet souls. But Lona walked apart with her baby.
Pondering as I went, I recalled many traits of my little friends.
Once when I suggested that they should leave the country of the bad giants, and go with me to find another,
they answered, "But that would be to NOT ourselves!"−−so strong in them was the love of place that their
country seemed essential to their very being! Without ambition or fear, discomfort or greed, they had no
motive to desire any change; they knew of nothing amiss; and, except their babies, they had never had a
chance of helping any one but myself:−−How were they to grow? But again, Why should they grow? In
seeking to improve their conditions, might I not do them harm, and only harm? To enlarge their minds after
the notions of my world−−might it not be to distort and weaken them? Their fear of growth as a possible start
for gianthood might be instinctive!
The part of philanthropist is indeed a dangerous one; and the man who would do his neighbour good must
first study how not to do him evil, and must begin by pulling the beam out of his own eye.
CHAPTER XV. A STRANGE HOSTESS
I travelled on attended by the moon. As usual she was full−−I had never seen her other−−and to−night as she
sank I thought I perceived something like a smile on her countenance.
When her under edge was a little below the horizon, there appeared in the middle of her disc, as if it had been
painted upon it, a cottage, through the open door and window of which she shone; and with the sight came
the conviction that I was expected there. Almost immediately the moon was gone, and the cottage had
vanished; the night was rapidly growing dark, and my way being across a close succession of small ravines, I
resolved to remain where I was and expect the morning. I stretched myself, therefore, in a sandy hollow,
made my supper off the fruits the children had given me at parting, and was soon asleep.
I woke suddenly, saw above me constellations unknown to my former world, and had lain for a while gazing
at them, when I became aware of a figure seated on the ground a little way from and above me. I was startled,
as one is on discovering all at once that he is not alone. The figure was between me and the sky, so that I saw
its outline well. From where I lay low in the hollow, it seemed larger than human.
It moved its head, and then first I saw that its back was toward me.
"Will you not come with me?" said a sweet, mellow voice, unmistakably a woman's.
Wishing to learn more of my hostess,
Lilith
"I thank you," I replied, "but I am not uncomfortable here. Where would you have me go? I like sleeping in
the open air."
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