144 Lily and Water-Ltly.

 

neighbourhood, and I have had patience; but now I!
will not have patience any longer. Go and find some
other girl who will be content with a dreamer. For
my part I like a man.”

She turned to go within, but he made a sudden

movement towards her. |
The heifer had ceased lowing; there was silence.
The sun sank into the west, and there was a red flush
- on Michael’s pale cheek.
“No; this is too much,” said he, and, though his
voice was low, it quivered with emotion. “It is true
_ that the other day, when I went to the islands, I did
“not believe in the Rhéne fairies. I went because I
thought you wished it, as I would do anything else
in the world that you wished. But now I do believe
in them, for I have seen one.”
She held her back turned to him, but he could see
that a quiver ran through her. '
“J had the lilies in my hand when she appeared to
me,” continued he. “They had been hard to get,
and I was glad, for I had done your bidding. But