52 = Luly and Water-Lily.

 

bank where the lily grew, and past the great cliff on
into the open country.

The sun, which had gone behind a cloud, shone out
again with tender radiance before it sank to its
setting, and the children thought that once more
they could be happy. ;

They wandered on hand-in-hand till they came to
a great field full of tall handsome purple poppies
that were just beginning to close up their blossoms
for the night. For the sun had set by this time and
the darkness was drawing near.

“Let us lie down here and rest,” said Ruby. “I
am weary. Do not let us wait to go back to the forest
for the night. Here we can rest as safely, and the
tall flowers will hide the morning sun from our eyes.”

It was the first time that the children had ever
rested away from the forest tree beneath which the
little thrushes and linnets spread the covering of
leaves for their couch. But, though she said nothing,
Pearl was afraid lest the birds should shun them to- _
night just as the pheasants and squirrels had shunned