88 Lily and Water-Lily.

 

carolling of an elaborate jddel fell upon the air,
executed with all the finish of an operatic singer, and
the figure of a tall and comely youth descended the
path towards the trees.

Salome turned once more to her pitcher; her lips
trembled still, but upon the grey eyes and the pale
face that suns had tanned so little all the former
coldness fell like a shadow.

“Ah! now, for whom are those pretty scales?”
whispered Judith, the girl who had first spoken.
“Dost thou suppose that Michael would have come
down to the well to see ws?”

The youth stood on a little rock just above
Salome. His eyes were fastened on her; he seemed
to have none for anybody else, yet she never glanced
at him, nor did her cheek flush with pride or pleasure
at the knowledge of his gaze.

He was well named; as he stood there he was as
a very image of the saint himself. The evening sun
shone on his golden curls and into his blue eyes, but
the gladness on the sweet mouth had slowly faded,