Thegrassonthebankofthestreamtrembledandatremulouspathofitsshivering，silver-greytopsranfromthewatertothebeginningofthethicket。Andyettherewasnotabreathofwind。Somebodykindpassedthere。Helookedpensivewhilethetremordiedoutinaquicktrembleunderhiseyes；andthegrassstoodhigh，unstirring，withdroopingheadsinthewarmandmotionlessair。
Hehurriedon，drivenbyasuddenlyawakenedcuriosity，andenteredthenarrowwaybetweenthebushes。Atthenextturnofthepathhecaughtagaintheglimpseofcolouredstuffandofawoman’sblackhairbeforehim。Hehastenedhispaceandcameinfullviewoftheobjectofhispursuit。Thewoman，whowascarryingtwobamboovesselsfullofwater，heardhisfootsteps，stopped，andputtingthebamboosdownhalfturnedtolookback。
Willemsalsostoodstillforaminute，thenwalkedsteadilyonwithafirmtread，whilethewomanmovedasidetolethimpass。
Hekepthiseyesfixedstraightbeforehim，yetalmostunconsciouslyhetookineverydetailofthetallandgracefulfigure。Asheapproachedherthewomantossedherheadslightlyback，andwithafreegestureofherstrong，roundarm，caughtupthemassoflooseblackhairandbroughtitoverhershoulderandacrossthelowerpartofherface。Thenextmomenthewaspassingherclose，walkingrigidly，likeamaninatrance。Heheardherrapidbreathingandhefeltthetouchofalookdartedathimfromhalf-openeyes。Ittouchedhisbrainandhishearttogether。Itseemedtohimtobesomethingloudandstirringlikeashout，silentandpenetratinglikeaninspiration。Themomentumofhismotioncarriedhimpasther，butaninvisibleforcemadeupofsurpriseandcuriosityanddesirespunhimroundassoonashehadpassed。
Shehadtakenupherburdenalready，withtheintentionofpursuingherpath。Hissuddenmovementarrestedheratthefirststep，andagainshestoodstraight，slim，expectant，withareadinesstodartawaysuggestedinthelightimmobilityofherpose。Highabove，thebranchesofthetreesmetinatransparentshimmerofwavinggreenmist，throughwhichtherainofyellowraysdescendeduponherhead，streamedinglintsdownherblacktresses，shonewiththechangingglowofliquidmetalonherface，andlostitselfinvanishingsparksinthesombredepthsofhereyesthat，wideopennow，withenlargedpupils，lookedsteadilyatthemaninherpath。AndWillemsstaredather，charmedwithacharmthatcarrieswithitasenseofirreparableloss，tinglingwiththatfeelingwhichbeginslikeacaressandendsinablow，inthatsuddenhurtofanewemotionmakingitswayintoahumanheart，withthebrusquestirringofsleepingsensationsawakeningsuddenlytotherushofnewhopes，newfears，newdesires——andtotheflightofone’soldself。