Now they stood there denuded, shrunk, formless, spread over
with a light green growth leaving some parts bare. The lowlands,
as well as the hills which framed them, were shrunk and
diminished, not in extent but in appearance. They could nut
persuade themselves to look at it. They recalled it all as it had
been and felt themselves despoiled.
The buildings had been newly painted, but they looked small by
contrast with those which they had in their minds. No one awaited
them at the landing, but a few people stood about near the
gallery, looking embarrassed--or were they suspicious? The
travellers went into Fru Kaas's old rooms, both up stairs and
down. These were just as they had left them, but how faded and
wretched they looked! The table, which was laid for supper, was
loaded with coarse food like that at a farmer's wedding.
The old lime-trees were gone. Fru Kaas wept.
Suddenly she was reminded of something. "Let us go across to the
other wing," she said this as if there they would find what was
wanting. In the gallery she took Rafael's arm; he grew curious.
His father's old rooms had been entirely renovated for him.
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