88 The Flame-Flower

Then Griffith took up ‘his bow-wood and
axe, and strode away ; and the maiden gazed
after him with her hands clasped on her
breast, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

A long time the maiden stood there gazing
after him; then her head drooped, and she
wept silently.

Flamma broke from her hiding-place and
stood before the hamadryad.

“T hate you!” she said.

The maiden gazed at her with great round
eyes, full of surprise, and sought to touch her
hand; but Flamma thrust her away.

« Sister, what have I done?” asked the
hamadryad.

Then Flamma flushed red with shame of
herself, and covered her face with her hands :
but when the maiden knelt before her, won-
dering at her emotion, and touching her arm
gently, Flamma drew herself up and un-
covered her face, and feigned to laugh.

“He is beautiful,” said the maiden, ‘and
I am lonely when he is not in the forest ; yet
he has never seen me until this day.” And
she sat on the roots of the oak and sobbed;