So he ate his fill, and this he did for many days. Then one
day, when he was bending down to pluck a golden fruit, that lay
gem-like on the ground among green leaves, he heard a sudden step
behind him, and turning, saw his guardian draw swiftly near, with a
look of anger on his face; the next instant he was struck down,
again and again; lifted from the ground at last, as in a passion of
rage, and flung down bleeding on the earth; and then, without a
word, his guardian left him; at first he lay and moaned, but then
he crawled away, and back to the house. And there he found the old
nurse that tended him, who greeted him with tears and words of
comfort, and cared for his hurts. And he asked her the reason of
his hard usage, but she could tell him nothing, only saying that it
was the master's will, and that he sometimes did thus, though she
thought he was merciful at heart.
The child lay sick many days, his guardian still coming to him and
sitting with him, with gentle talk and tender offices, till the
scene in the garden was like an evil dream; but as his guardian
spoke no word of displeasure to the child, the child still feared
to ask him, and only strove to forget.
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