56 Lily and Water-Lily.

But somehow the breath of the poppies seemed to
have deadened their feelings as well as their limbs,
for they did not seem to care, as they would have
done two days ago, about the crushed beauties that
had stood up yesterday so tall and fair.

A moment they looked at the spoiled places; but
then, without a word to one another, they hastened to
the stream where they were wont every morning to
bathe their limbs after the night’s rest.

They hoped that the water would make them
fresh again, and as merry as they had been before;
but somehow this morning even the pure river could
not wash away their weariness; the water only
washed their bodies, and left their hearts just as they
were before.

The white lily saw them go by as they passed orre
the bank towards the cliff.

He was very sad as he looked at Pearl, for her face
had changed very much, and she scarcely looked now
like the sunny child whom he had first known.

She had one of the poppy petals still clinging to