Itmightalmosthaveseemedthatherolonginghiswork,thathewasquitehappytobeslightlydelayedagainandagainbythesefinaldelicatetouchestothefigure.Dayspassed,andalwaystherewassomethingnewforhimte.AlthoughNarcissusfeltdeeplysadabouttheapproagfarewell,hesometimessmiledalittleaboutGoldmundsbeinginlove,abouthisnotbeingabletotearhimselfawayfromtheMarystatue.

    ButonedayGoldmundsurprisedhim;suddenlyhecametotakehisleave.Hehadmadeuphismindduringthenight.Inhisnewclothes,withane,hecametoNarcissustosaygoodbye.Hehadalreadyfessedandunedsometimeago.Nowhecametobidfarewellandbegiventheblessingfortheroad.Theleavetakingcamehardtobothofthem,andGoldmundactedwithabrusquesnessandindifferencehedidnotfeelinhisheart.

    "WillIeverseeyouagain?"askedNarcissus.

    "Ohyes,ifyourprettynagdoesnotbreakmyneck,youwillcertainlyseemeagain.Besides,withoutme,therewouldntbeatocallyouNarcissusandcauseyoutoworry.Sodontfear.Yes,anddontfettokeepaneyeonEridletouchmystatue!Shemustremainstandinginmyroom,asIhavesaidbefore,andyouarenottoletthekeyoutofyourhand."

    "Areyoulookingforwardtothejourney?"

    Goldmundblinked.

    "Well,Iwaslookingforwardtoit;thatsquitetrue.ButnowthatImabouttorideoff,itfeelslessamusingthanonemightthink.Youlllaughatme,butIdontlikegoingaway;andthisdependencedoesnotpleaseme.Itislikeanillness;youhymendonthavethat.MasterNiklauswasthatway,too.Well,letsnotchataboutuselessstuff!Blessme,dearfriend;Iwanttoleave."

    Herodeoff.

    Inhisthoughts,Nar