sian = |

 

 

The White Lily. - 63

 

The little mouse ran around her feet, but she did
not see him; and upon the evening air the scent of
the white lily floated heavy with its message to her
senses, but she did not understand.

Both of them were warning her to take care, but
she would not be warned, and, like many other
children have done since, she went her own way.

Tossing her golden hair behind her, she ran forward
towards the cliff.

Its base was adorned with barberry and ash bushes,
and of these she took hold with her soft little hands,
while she planted her bare feet bravely upon the
sharp points of the undermost ledge of rock.

For a few moments the whole glade was hushed to
silence.

The birds no longer sang, the breeze no longer
rustled in the trees, the dragon-flies no longer
hummed as they sailed past in the warm air; even
the torrent no longer chattered idly on its way, but
seemed to change its voice to one of plaintive sadness
as it flowed onward to the river.