The twigs and the leaves of the chestnut tree trembled in thefirst moments of its being moved； and the Dryad trembled in thepleasurable feeling of expectation。
〃Away！ away！〃 it sounded in every beat of her pulse。 〃Away！away〃 sounded in words that flew trembling along。 The Dryad forgotto bid farewell to the regions of home； she thought not of thewaving grass and of the innocent daisies； which had looked up to heras to a great lady； a young Princess playing at being a shepherdessout in the open air。
The chestnut tree stood upon the wagon； and nodded his branches；whether this meant 〃farewell〃 or 〃forward；〃 the Dryad knew not； shedreamed only of the marvellous new things； that seemed yet sofamiliar； and that were to unfold themselves before her。 No child'sheart rejoicing in innocence… no heart whose blood danced withpassion… had set out on the journey to Paris more full ofexpectation than she。
Her 〃farewell〃 sounded in the words 〃Away！ away！〃
The wheels turned； the distant approached； the present vanished。The region was changed； even as the clouds change。 New vineyards；forests； villages； villas appeared… came nearer… vanished！
The chestnut tree moved forward； and the Dryad went with it。Steam…engine after steam…engine rushed past； sending up into the airvapory clouds； that formed figures which told of Paris； whence theycame； and whither the Dryad was going。
Everything around knew it； and must know whither she was bound。 Itseemed to her as if every tree she passed stretched out its leavestowards her； with the prayer… 〃Take me with you！ take me with you！〃for every tree enclosed a longing Dryad。
What changes during this flight！ Houses seemed to be rising out ofthe earth… more and more… thicker and thicker。 The chimneys roselike flower…pots ranged side by side； or in rows one above theother； on the roofs。 Great inscriptions in letters a yard long； andfigures in various colors； covering the walls from cornice tobasement； came brightly out。
〃Where does Paris begin； and when shall I be there？〃 asked theDryad。
The crowd of people grew； the tumult and the bustle increased；carriage followed upon carriage； people on foot and people onhorseback were mingled together； all around were shops on shops； musicand song； crying and talking。
The Dryad； in her tree； was now in the midst of Paris。 The greatheavy wagon all at once stopped on a little square planted with trees。The high houses around had all of them balconies to the windows；from which the inhabitants looked down upon the young fresh chestnuttree； which was ing to be planted here as a substitute for the deadtree that lay stretched on the ground。
The passers…by stood still and smiled in admiration of its purevernal freshness。 The older trees； whose buds were still closed；whispered with their waving branches； 〃Wele！ wele！〃 Thefountain； throwing its jet of water high up in the air； to let it fallagain in the wide stone basin； told the wind to sprinkle the new…erwith pearly drops； as if it wished to give him a refreshing draught towele him。
The Dryad felt how her tree was being lifted from the wagon tobe placed in the spot where it was to stand。 The roots were coveredwith earth； and fresh turf was laid on top。 Blooming shrubs andflowers in pots were ranged around； and thus a little garden arosein the square。
The tree that had been killed by the fumes of gas； the steam ofkitchens； and the bad air of the city； was put upon the wagon anddriven away。 The passers…by looked on。 Children and old men sat uponthe bench； and looked at the green tree。 And we who are telling thisstory stood upon a balcony； and looked down upon the green springsight that had been brought in from the fresh country air； and said；what the old clergyman would have said； 〃Poor Dryad！〃
〃I am happy！ I am happy！〃 the Dryad cried； rejoicing； 〃and yet Icannot realize； cannot describe what I feel。 Everything is as Ifancied it； and yet as I did not fancy it。〃
The houses stood there； so lofty； so close！ The sunlight shoneon only one of the walls； and that one was stuck over with bills andplacards； before which the people stood still； and this made a crowd。
Carriages rushed past； carriages rolled past； light ones and heavyones mingled together。 Omnibuses； those over…crowded moving houses；came rattling by； horsemen galloped among them； even carts andwagons asserted their rights。
The Dryad asked herself if these high…grown houses； which stood soclose around her； would not remove and take other shapes； like theclouds in the sky； and draw aside； so that she might cast a glanceinto Paris； and over it。 Notre Dame must show itself； the VendomeColumn； and the wondrous building which had called and was stillcalling so many strangers to the city。
But the houses did not stir from their places。 It was yet day whenthe lamps were lit。 The gas…jets gleamed from the shops； and shoneeven into the branches of the trees； so that it was like sunlight insummer。 The stars above made their appearance； the same to which theDryad had looked up in her home。 She thought she felt a clear purestream of air which went forth from them。 She felt herself lifted upand strengthened； and felt an increased power of seeing throughevery leaf and through every fibre of the root。 Amid all the noise andthe turmoil； the colors and the lights； she knew herself watched bymild eyes。
From the side streets sounded the merry notes of fiddles andwind instruments。 Up！ to the dance； to the dance！ to jollity andpleasure！ that was their invitation。 Such music it was； that horses；carriages； trees； and houses would have danced； if they had known how。The charm of intoxicating delight filled the bosom of the Dryad。
〃How glorious； how splendid it is！〃 she cried； rejoicingly。 〃Now Iam in Paris！〃
The next day that dawned； the next night that fell； offered thesame spectacle； similar bustle； similar life； changing； indeed； yetalways the same； and thus it went on through the sequence of days。
〃Now I know every tree； every flower on the square here！ I knowevery house； every balcony； every shop in this narrow cut…offcorner； where I am denied the sight of this great mighty city。 Whereare the arches of triumph； the Boulevards； the wondrous building ofthe world？ I see nothing of all this。 As if shut up in a cage； I standamong the high houses； which I now know by heart； with theirinscriptions； signs； and placards； all the painted confectionery； thatis no longer to my taste。 Where are all the things of which I heard；for which I longed； and for whose sake I wanted to e hither？ whathave I seized； found； won？ I feel the same longing I felt before； Ifeel that there is a life I should wish to grasp and to experience。I must go out into the ranks of living men； and mingle among them。 Imust fly about like a bird。 I must see and feel； and bee humanaltogether。 I must enjoy the one half…day； instead of vegetating foryears in every…day sameness and weariness； in which I bee ill；and at last sink and disappear like the dew on the meadows。 I willgleam like the cloud； gleam in the sunshine of life； look out over thewhole like the cloud； and pass away like it； no one knoweth whither。〃
Thus sighed the Dryad； and she prayed：
〃Take from me the years that were d