CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE PROLOGUE 1 1 BUT PALADINS RIDE FAR BETWEEN 6 2 OUT IN THE BLOWY WET WEATHER 18 3 THE DEEP WOODS OF ENCHANTMENT 34 4 A BRIEF LECTURE AND SOME INTRODUCTIONS 48 5 A FLOWER ON A MOUNTAIN TOP 66 6 IN THE "DEVIL'S GARDEN" 80 7 THE PATH THAT LEADS BACK TO BOYHOOD 99 8 WHAT CAME OUT OF THE MIST 115 9 A SHELTER IN THE FOREST 134 10 THE HERMIT'S STORY 148 11 DURING THE ABSENCE OF CONSTANCE 166 12 CONSTANCE RETURNS AND HEARS A STORY 183 13 WHAT THE SMALL WOMAN IN BLACK SAW 193 14 WHAT MISS CARROWAY DID 208 15 EDITH AND FRANK 219 16 THE LUCKY PIECE 233 EPILOGUE 250THE LUCKY PIECEPROLOGUEThere is a sharp turn just above the hill. The North Elba stagesometimes hesitates there before taking the plunge into the valleybelow.But this was late September. The morning was brisk, the mountainsglorified, the tourists were going home. The four clattering, snortinghorses swung into the turn and made straight for the brow--the stout,ruddy-faced driver holding hard on the lines, but making no furthereffort to check them. Then the boy in the front seat gave his usual"Hey! look there!" and, the other passengers obeying, as they alwaysdid, saw something not especially related to Algonquin, or Tahawus, orWhiteface--the great mountains whose slopes were ablaze with autumn,their peaks already tipped with snow--that was not, indeed, altogetherAdirondack scenery. Where the bend came, at the brink, a littleweather-beaten cottage cornered--a place with apple trees and somefaded summer flowers. In the road in front was a broad flat stone, andupon it a single figure--a little girl of not more than eight--her armextended toward the approaching stage, in her hand a saucer of berries.The tourists had passed a number of children already, but this one wasdifferent. The others had been mostly in flocks--soiled, stringy-hairedlittle mountaineers, who had gathered to see the stage go by. Thesmooth, oval face of this child, rich under the tan, was clean, the darkhair closely brushed--her dress a simple garment, though of a fashionunfavored by the people of the hills. All this could be comprehended inthe brief glance allowed the passengers; also the deep wistful lookwhich followed them as the stage whirled by without stopping.A lady in the back seat (she had been in Italy) murmured something abouta "child Madonna." Another said, "Poor little thing!"