The Flame-Flower 85

out from the trunk of the oak; nor was
there any hollow in the trunk that a person
might go into, so that Flamma wondered.
When the maiden perceived Griffith asleep,
she went to one of the still pools and
arranged her hair by the reflection; then
she turned and looked earnestly at Griffith,
and her hands were clasped over her
breast ; and very slowly she drew near to
Griffith, and sat down by him, very near,
gazing at him as he slept.

Flamma turned and wandered away, drop-
ping from her hand the wild flowers which
she had gathered to deck the hamadryad-
maiden’s hair. Now she did not notice the
little wild things that came about her.

“Is this why he comes so often into the
forest?” she kept saying to herself. ‘Is
she fairer than I? Is she fairer than I?”
Then she wondered at herself, and why
she asked these questions.

After that she went no more to seek the
maiden; but once again she stole to the
mossy glade by the great oak, and Griffith
lay asleep as before; and the hamadryad sat
by him, watching him.