128 Lily and Water-Lity.

 

 

these towering mountains that crush us with their
might, these cold glaciers and monotonous pine
forests ; together we will float over the world as we
have floated to-night over this little lake; thou shalt
learn to know life, to know the great world, thou
shalt become that for which thou art fitted.”

But slowly Michael was awakening from his trance,
slowly the blood of life crept back to his heart and brain.

“Nay,” answered he, slowly but firmly, “the life
that is mine is the life to which I am fitted, the life
that methinks I should ever prefer. I am content, I
need no other.”

“Ah! thou dost not know,” insisted Nerina, shaking
her head just a trifle pettishly, “thou knowest no
-other. Thou wilt not say so when thou hast seen
what is beyond these encircling mountains.”

Michael raised his eyes; a quiet and steady fire
burned in them. “Then I would rather not see what
is beyond them,” said he, defiantly. “ Nay, I would
fain believe that the sight of no other lands, how-
soever fair, would quench in me the love of home