Its height I could not distinctly see. As soon as I entered, I had
the feeling so common to me in the woods, that there were others
there besides myself, though I could see no one, and heard no sound to
indicate a presence. Since my visit to the Church of Darkness, my power
of seeing the fairies of the higher orders had gradually diminished,
until it had almost ceased. But I could frequently believe in their
presence while unable to see them. Still, although I had company, and
doubtless of a safe kind, it seemed rather dreary to spend the night in
an empty marble hall, however beautiful, especially as the moon was near
the going down, and it would soon be dark. So I began at the place where
I entered, and walked round the hall, looking for some door or passage
that might lead me to a more hospitable chamber. As I walked, I was
deliciously haunted with the feeling that behind some one of the
seemingly innumerable pillars, one who loved me was waiting for me. Then
I thought she was following me from pillar to pillar as I went along;
but no arms came out of the faint moonlight, and no sigh assured me of
her presence.
At length I came to an open corridor, into which I turned;
notwithstanding that, in doing so, I left the light behind. Along this
I walked with outstretched hands, groping my way, till, arriving at
another corridor, which seemed to strike off at right angles to that in
which I was, I saw at the end a faintly glimmering light, too pale even
for moonshine, resembling rather a stray phosphorescence. However, where
everything was white, a little light went a great way. So I walked on
to the end, and a long corridor it was. When I came up to the light, I
found that it proceeded from what looked like silver letters upon a door
of ebony; and, to my surprise even in the home of wonder itself, the
letters formed the words, THE CHAMBER OF SIR ANODOS. Although I had as
yet no right to the honours of a knight, I ventured to conclude that
the chamber was indeed intended for me; and, opening the door without
hesitation, I entered. Any doubt as to whether I was right in so doing,
was soon dispelled. What to my dark eyes seemed a blaze of light, burst
upon me. A fire of large pieces of some sweet-scented wood, supported by
dogs of silver, was burning on the hearth, and a bright lamp stood on a
table, in the midst of a plentiful meal, apparently awaiting my arrival.
But what surprised me more than all, was, that the room was in every
respect a copy of my own room, the room whence the little stream from my
basin had led me into Fairy Land. There was the very carpet of grass and
moss and daisies, which I had myself designed; the curtains of pale blue
silk, that fell like a cataract over the windows; the old-fashioned bed,
with the chintz furniture, on which I had slept from boyhood. "Now I
shall sleep," I said to myself. "My shadow dares not come here."