dL BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

Dragon-flower smiled, and said what a loyal little girl Primrose
was; but her eyes had a hard and glassy look, and it seemed to
Primrose as if she could read through her, and as if she knew that
she was all hollow and not really good.

The poor little girl felt thoroughly frightened, and longed to find
a quiet moment to go up to Buttereup and induce him to leave Castle
Dangerous at once.

Buttercup, however, avoided her eyes. Now that he was dressed
in the gay and lovely clothes supplied to him by the sisters, he looked
a most beautiful child, and he got so much petting that his giddy
little head was completely turned.

“Come, my children, now,” said Silver-wings, “ come into this
lovely room that Moonlight has prepared and lie down and sleep.
These beds are covered with sheets made of the finest silk—the
counterpanes spread over them are rose-coloured; and we hope that
the dreams which will visit each of your little brains will be rose-
coloured too. Come, my children, come.”

As Silver-wings spoke she went on in advance of the children and
began to sing:

“Sleep, my little ones, sleep !
Soft blows the wind from the west ;
Far in the forest so deep
Turtle-doves coo in their nest.
Sleep, my little ones, sleep !

“Rest and be still, little feet,
Wearisome travels are 0’er ;
Here is a haven more sweet
Than ever you entered before.
Rest and be still, little feet !

“ Lullaby, lullaby, all !
Rose-coloured visions of joy
Hover around when I call,

Come to each girl and each boy.
Lullaby, lullaby, all !”