TEMPTATION ~ 47

described. As he did so, what was his
surprise to see that at one particular place,
about half-way up the rocks down which the
water fell, there stood upon a projecting rock
the figure of a beautiful little lady. She was
so bright and lovely that the water which
fell over and around her seemed to catch
something of her brightness, and to shine as
if in the light of the noonday summer sun.
She was dressed entirely in white, but the
white was like silver, and you can hardly
imagine how beautiful she appeared. As
soon as little Hurly-Burly saw her he felt
sure that he was in the presence of a friend,
and that he had no need either to squeeze
his toad or say his magic word. He was
about to address the lady at once, when she
waved her hand, in which was a little branch
of the mountain ash, and began to speak in
alow but clear voice, every tone of which
rang through the boy’s ears like the sound
of a silvery bell, and these were the words
which fell from her gracious lips:

‘Young Prince, I welcome thee to this fair glade,
The fairest ever seen in wood or plain ;
Yet if thou doubtest or dost feel afraid,
There still is time to turn thy steps again.’