72 Lily and Water-Lily.

 

“1 remember now,” said Pearl. “He seemed to go
further and further from ‘me the higher I climbed.
And just as I thought I had got him, I fell. Oh, I
thought I was dead!” And Pearl shuddered.

Ruby clasped her hand wildly. “Oh, Pearl, Pearl,
how could I ever have left you?” hecried. “But I will
never leave you again. I will take care of you now.”

Pearl smiled as she heard Ruby’s voice. _

“Tt wasn’t your fault,” she said. “I was disobedient
and cruel. I wanted the tiger-lily. I was glad that
" you went away, so that I could try and get it. But
oh, it was dreadful, and now do you think I shall
die?” os

“Oh no, Pearl, no; you mustn’t die,” cried poor
Ruby, in despair. ‘What should I do if you died ?”

He stroked Pearl’s hand tenderly, and then, looking
at the lily on her breast, whose leaves were already
beginning to droop a little, he said, “Why did you
pick the poor white lily, Pearl?”

He could not quite get over the idea that Pearl was
somehow suffering for having plucked the white lily.