The Romance of a Water-Lily. 119 -

 

seemed to encircle them both, and she lay her cool
little hands_upon his hair.

He shuddered; for the mists were dank, awa she
murmured—

“ Are all mortals as fair as thou?”

What was it that froze his speech, so that he could
not answer? j

“But I care not,” she continued; “thou art fair
enough. I ne’er dreamed a fairer, and I will love
thee. Nay, shrink not from me; I will do thee no
hurt. Thou shalt live, for if I love thee it is per-
mitted to me to pardon thine offence, and to take
thee tomy home. Ah! I am glad thou hast come,
fof I have much desired to love a mortal.”

Again he felt that cool touch upon his brow. . He
strove to shake it off; he strove to speak; but there
was as a sweet slumber upon him, and the marsh
mists closed in close, and he felt himself gently lifted
from the earth, and the mists upheld him, and bore
him whither he knew not. ,

But he was not afraid, for it was as though it were
not he but another to whom this befell.