Page 105 - Adventures in shadow-land

the bow and one at the stern, and two on each
side; and while she Looked at the tiny boat it

grew longer and broader, and at either end it rose
in a graceful curve, finished at bow and stern

with an open lily-cup; and then the calm surface
of the water broke into a thousand little ripples,
rocking the lilies to and fro, which bent as

though they were saluting the little vessel, along
whose sides the tiny waves flowed caressingly.

The children then told Eva that everything
was ready, and that it was time for her to enter

the boat which they had prepared for her, and
which the six Fish Fairies would guide down the

brook, But Eva hesitated* for the boat, she
thought, was too small for her. One of the

children, seeing that Eva hesitated, told her not
to be afraid, for the boat was built in such a way,

being a magic boat, that it would hold any one
for whom it was made. So Eva did as she was
told, and, stepping lightly into the boat, she

found that it was just the right size for her;
though she did not exactly know if it was she

that had grown smaller or the boat which' had
grown larger.