To tell you the truth , foolish as it may seem , she was half inclined to turn round and run away . `` What a silly child I am ! '' thought she , taking courage . `` It is really the most beautiful shrub that ever sprang out of the earth . I will pull it up by the roots , and carry it home , and plant it in my mother 's garden . '' Holding up her apron full of flowers with her left hand , Proserpina seized the large shrub with the other , and pulled , and pulled , but was hardly able to loosen the soil about its roots . What a deep-rooted plant it was ! Again the girl pulled with all her might , and observed that the earth began to stir and crack to some distance around the stem . She gave another pull , but relaxed her hold , fancying that there was a rumbling sound right beneath her feet . Did the roots extend down into some enchanted cavern ? Then laughing at herself for so childish a notion , she made another effort : up came the shrub , and Proserpina staggered back , holding the stem triumphantly in her hand , and gazing at the deep hole which its roots had left in the soil . Much to her astonishment , this hole kept spreading wider and wider , and growing deeper and deeper , until it really seemed to have no bottom ; and all the while , there came a rumbling noise out of its depths , louder and louder , and nearer and nearer , and sounding like the tramp of horses ' hoofs and the rattling of wheels . Too much frightened to run away , she stood straining her eyes into this wonderful cavity , and soon saw a team of four sable horses , snorting smoke out of their nostrils , and tearing their way out of the earth with a splendid golden chariot whirling at their heels . They leaped out of the bottomless hole , chariot and all ; and there they were , tossing their black manes , flourishing their black tails , and curvetting with every one of their hoofs off the ground at once , close by the spot where Proserpina stood . In the chariot sat the figure of a man , richly dressed , with a crown on his head , all flaming with diamonds . He was of a noble aspect , and rather handsome , but looked sullen and discontented ; and he kept rubbing his eyes and shading them with his hand , as if he did not live enough in the sunshine to be very fond of its light . As soon as this personage saw the affrighted Proserpina , he beckoned her to come a little nearer . `` Do not be afraid , '' said he , with as cheerful a smile as he knew how to put on . `` Come ! Will you not like to ride a little way with me , in my beautiful chariot ? ''
But Proserpina was so alarmed , XXXXX she wished for nothing but to get out of his reach .
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