The White Lily. 47

 

She walked slowly with her head bent down—out
of heart.

That was, perhaps, how she came at last to notice
the gentle white flower that grew in the shade. .

She stopped and looked at it. Then she bent
down and smelt it.

“Why, it is this, Ruby,” said she. “What a strange,
lovely flower! How soft and green its leaves are,
and how sadly it hangs its head! I cannot see its
face.”

She knelt down on the soft moss and touched the
flower with her little tender hand, and put her little
tip-tilted nose to it because it was so sweet.

The breeze. that rustled through the trees passed
over the lily once more and made him tremble
"again.

Pearl lifted the drooping head and looked into the
starry white face.

“ How beautiful it is!” she murmured. “How pure
and how transparent its petals are! and see the crown
of gold upon its head.”