118 Lily and Water-Lily.

and across the moonlit
ripples her voice came
softly, “’Tis a pity thou
shouldst die,’ it mur-
mured; “thou art so
fair.”

He did not reply ; his
heart beat strangely, and
he felt that she was float-
ing slowly over the water
towards him ; but he stood
as in a trance.

: y “T have always wished
A a [ to see a mortal,” said the
| ie fj} liquid voice again. “And
| i | NSCS ES now I have my wish.
She floated towards him] Methinks I am glad thou

' didst pluck the lilies.”

She laughed a low, soft laugh, but still he stood as
one numbed.

She was close to him; the mists of the marsh

Yi
he