The Flame-Flower III

“T am sorry,” said Griffith; “for she
saved our lives, and was good and sweet.”

“She is dead!” said Flamma. “She saved
thy life!”

“She saved my life once,” said Griffith,
‘“‘but thou didst save it thrice. Vet did the
maiden do more than thou hast, for she saved
thy life, Flamma—to me.”

Flamma looked away from him, and he
took her hand in his. She drew it away,
saying, “ The oak-maiden is dead, Griffith,
my brother.”

But Griffith took her hand again in his,
Flamma looking all the time away from him.

“Put the flower from between us; take it
in thy further hand,” said Flamma.

_ “The flower is not between us,” said
Griffith,

“But it has been,” said Flamma.

‘Nay, it has not,” answered Griffith, “for
IT have held it all the while in my further
hand.”

“Cast the flower from thee, Griffith,” said
Flamma: and he did so, and took her hand
again in his; and she left her hand in his.