earth with a splendid golden chariot whirling al
their heels. They leaped out of the bottomless
hole, chariot and all; and there they were, tossing
their black manes, flourishing their black tails, and
curvetting with every one of their hoofs off the
ground at once, close by the spot where Proser-
pina stood. In the chariot sat the figure of a
man, richly dressed, with a crown on his head,
all flaming with diamonds. He was of a noble
aspect, and rather handsome, but looked sullen
and discontented; and he kept rubbing his eyes
and shading them with his hand, as if he did not
live enough in the sunshine to be very fond of its
light.

As soon as this personage saw the affrighted
Proserpina, he beckoned her to come a little
nearer.

"Do not be afraid," said he, with as cheerful
a smile as he knew how to put on. "Come!
Will not you like to ride a little way with me,
in my beautiful chariot?"

But Proserpina was so alarmed, that she wished
for nothing but to get out of his reach. And no
wonder. The stranger did not look remarkably
good natured, in spite of his smile; and as for

[[220]]

p219 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p220w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p220a

v?