122. Lily and Water-Lily.

“ The transparency through which the moonlight
had seemed to shine as she stood upon the bosom of
the river was no more, and a strangely searching
light, from he knew not whence, showed her to him
as a tangible and a very lovely woman.

Upon the great whiteness of her skin a delicate
carmine lay that grew redder in the arched lips, and
two slenderly carved eyebrows were black upon the
ivory brow; her black hair hung in long rippling
masses upon her bare snowy shoulders, and reached
to where her beautifully moulded limbs moved lithely *
through her draperies; her soft black eyes shone
merrily.

Truly she was a lovely woman ; and yet—was she
a woman? or was she a child? or was she—neither ?

Michael could not tell, but he felt that, tangible as
she seemed, she was as intangible still as when the
moonlight shone through her on the water. j

“Why have you brought me here, fair lady?” said
he at last.

“Why ?” repeated she, with her bright sweet smile.