84 The Flame-Flower

glades ; and many a time after that Flamma
went to the great oak and called (for
Flamma had no fear of the forest, having
lived in it so long as a child; and the people
of the homesteading knew her ways, and said
no evil of her); and the hamadryad would

come forth, and so they
would wander together,
or sit by the pools
of the rivulet:
and Flamma
loved themaiden.

One day she
went into the
forest as usual,
and came upon
Griffith asleep in
the mossy glade
where the great oak stood.

By him tinkled the little rivulet, forming
still pools here and there; and over him
stretched the arms of the great oak, shading
him.

While Flamma stood near, looking upon
him, she saw the unknown maiden come