I 56 ~ Lily and Water-Lily.

There was another pause, and again a sound as of
sobbing on the night air, and when Nerina spoke again
her voice was as though very far off.

“Farewell, Michael!” it murmured. “Me thou wilt
see no more, for I go back to the home of the fairies.
But I thank thee that thou camest, for I am glad that
I have loved a mortal. Farewell! Fear nothing!
Thou shalt not die. Thou shalt live by thy love.
See, thy beloved awaiteth thee. Live and rejoice.”

The voice was now but as the sigh of the cool night
breeze, and as the murmur of the rippling water came
a last word, “Farewell!” And the echo sent it
back again from the rocks of Ai, “ Farewell, Michael,
farewell!”

The moon broke clear again from the cloud, and
the mists slowly parted, and, lo! Nerina was no more ;
only the tall rushes bowed themselves gravely over
the green water as though in sad and silent homage,
and the white lilies floated on the breast of the stream
where the silver light pricked the crest of the wave-
lets, but hard by upon the moist bank crouched Salome,
sobbing.