CEN PAN Eine e

THE LADY IN THE GREEN DRESS.

   

, HE night was so still that Primrose could hear
the boat as it grated on the shore. The children
ceased singing now, and, preceded by the four
lovely sisters and followed by Fungus, the ugly
ferryman, they came dancing and running along
the path which led to the wood. They were
all dressed in flowing white garments, and wreaths
of flowers were twined round their heads.

Primrose could see them all as she stood, a
dark little shadow herself, by the black gates,
which were so soon to be opened to shut the
innocent children away from daylight and happi-
ness. ‘The sisters walked two and two, scarcely
touching the ground as they sped lightly forward. Their flowing
garments revealed the exquisite shape of their limbs, their hair floated
back over their shoulders.

Dragon-flower came first: she was dressed in many colours, and
looked like a beautiful tropical flower; Poppy was in a shining rose-
coloured dress through which the golden twilight shone ; Moonlight
was in faint pale blue; but lovely Silver-wings had nota scrap of colour
about her—she was white like the first faint streak of the dawn, her
dress rustled as she walked, and little silver sparks seemed to float
from her and fill the air with a dazzling radiance.

Buttercup was holding Silver-wings’ hand. In his white dress he
looked like a cherub ; his blue eyes were raised to Silver-wings’ face,
his lps were parted in a happy smile. ,