Page 160 - Adventures in shadow-land

velvet,— the little sparkling brooks which they

occasionally crossed all sung the same song :

W hen will Eva's task be done ?
W hen will Aster's flow’r be won?
W hen his robes from stains are free,—
W hen the moon’s orb round shall be,—
Then the trial will be done,
Then shall Aster's flow'r be won.

For a few days, however, Eva noticed that
Aster seemed dull and spiritless. He scarcely

ever spoke, but walked quietly by her side.

Nothing seemed to attract his attention, nothing
made him sm ile; but every now and then, when

they would cross one of the little brooks, and it
would sing its song, he would look down upon

his dress, and say, sad ly:
(i It will never be bright again!”

Yet Eva noticed that he was careful never to
trample on the flowers, or to hurt anything in

their path. And as, day after day, the moon
brightened and broadened, and Aster grew with

her increase, Eva saw that the sad, mournful ex­

pression in his eyes vanished, and they regained
their former starlike brilliancy. By slow de*