The White Lily. 79

 

ripe once more and the flower-world was all alive again,
they stood and looked down upon the lily plant.

And, lo, among its dark leaves they saw that
another tall and slender stem had grown up, and
that upon its head a crown of purest white petals
was opening out to the rays of the moon.

The mouse stood upon Pearl’s shoulder,and trembled
to see what she would do.

The moonbeams played upon her face, and he could
see that she was very pale.

She looked a long while at the fresh ae and then
she said slowly—

“Tt is very beautiful, and Iam glad that it has come ;
but it is not the lily that I knew. No; I would rather
have you for a friend, mousie, even though you are
ugly.”

And as she said the words, and kissed the mouse
upon her shoulder, he ran down and away from her,
and while she stood there, wondering and alarmed,
suddenly there appeared before her a boy who was
not Ruby, because he was even more beautiful, a boy

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