48 | Lily and Water-Lily.

 

Ruby did not answer, although he was looking down
upon the flower.

“How I wish it were mine!” murmured Pearl
again.

She stretched out her hand towards the flower.

“Don’t pluck that, Pearl! don’t pluck it!” cried
Ruby. “It is so beautiful.”

“That's why I want to have it for my own,”
answered Pearl, “to wear upon my bosom.”

“But it will die,” argued the boy.

“TI don’t believe a the flowers die,” said the little
girl, obstinately. “It is only the bad flowers, that
deceive and scratch, who die. And this sweet flower
will always be true and kind, I know. I will take
great care of it.”

She put her hand upon the lily, closed her little
white fingers around its slender stem, and was just
going to snap it off.

Again the breeze passed over the lily, and again it
trembled in every leaf.

But just as cruel Pearl was about to ruin this