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flower, that he might find pleasure in the fragrance.
After an hour of going from plant to plant, sniffing and smelling, Dhrun
became bored and stretched out on a patch of lawn, to doze in the sunshine,
while Glyneth went to puzzle out the mystery of a sun dial.
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Someone gestured from the side of the cottage; looking around, Glyneth saw
Dame Didas, who instantly signaled her first to caution and silence, then
beckoned her to come.
Glyneth slowly approached Dame Didas, in a fever of impatience, signaled her
to haste. Glyneth moved forward more quickly.
Dame Didas asked, "What did Dame Melissa tell you about me?"
Glyneth hesitated, then spoke out bravely. "She said not to bother you; that
you were very old and often irritable, or even a little, well, unpredictable."
Dame Didas gave a dry chuckle. "As for that, you'll have a chance to judge for
yourself. In the meanwhile now heed me, girl, heed me! drink no milk with your
supper. I will call to Dame Melissa;
while she is distracted pour the milk into the sink, then pretend to have
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finished. After supper say that you are very tired and would like to go to
bed. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Dame Didas."
"Disregard me to your peril! Tonight, when the house is quiet, and
Dame Melissa has gone to her workroom, I'll explain. Will you heed me?"
"Yes, Dame Didas. If I may say so, you seem neither crabbed nor eery."
"That's a good girl. Until tonight then. Now I must hurry back to the weeds;
they grow as fast as I'm able to pull them."
The afternoon passed. At sunset Dame Melissa called them in to supper. On the
kitchen table she placed a fresh crusty loaf, butter and a dish of pickled
mushrooms. She had already poured mugs of milk for both Glyneth and Dhrun;
there was also a milk jug if they wanted more.
"Sit down, children," said Dame Melissa. "Are your hands clean?
Good. Eat as much as you wish; and drink your milk. It is fresh
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- - - - Vance uses many footnotes in this volume and good."
"Thank you, Dame Melissa."
From the drawing room came the voice of Dame Didas. "Melissa, come at once! I
want a word with you!"
"Later, Didas, later!" But Melissa rose to her feet and walked to the doorway;
instantly Glyneth poured out the milk from both mugs.
She whispered to Dhrun: "Pretend to drink from the empty mug."
When Dame Melissa returned, both Glyneth and Dhrun were apparently in the act
of draining the milk in their mugs.
Dame Melissa said nothing, but turned away and paid no more heed to them.
Glyneth and Dhrun ate a slice of crusty bread with butter; then
Glyneth simulated a yawn. "We're both tired, Dame Melissa. If you'll excuse
us, we'd like to go to bed."
"Of course! Glyneth, you may help Dhrun to his bed and you know your own
room."
Glyneth, carrying a candle, took Dhrun up to the garret. Dhrun asked
dubiously: "Aren't you afraid to be alone?"
"A little, but not too much."
"I'm no longer a fighter," said Dhrun wistfully. "Still, if I hear you cry out
I'll be there."
Glyneth descended to her room and lay on the bed fully clothed. A
few minutes later Didas appeared. "She's in her workroom now; we have a few
moments to talk. To start, let me say that Dame
Melissa, as she calls herself, is a dire witch. When I was fifteen years old,
she gave me drugged milk to drink, then transferred herself into my body that
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which she wears today. I, a fifteen-year-
old girl, was housed in the body Melissa had been using: a woman about forty
years old. That was twenty-five years ago. Tonight she
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