Page 97 - Adventures in shadow-land
P. 97

C H A P T E R   X I.


                                                    THE  M AGIC  BOAT.



                                            ORNING  came,  and  Eva  awoke,  to  find
                                             that  she was all  alone  in  the  palace,  and
                                             to  wonder  at  the  utter  stillness  around

                                   her.  There was  no  song  of  birds to  be  heard,—
                                   no  fall  of  musical  waters,— no  merry  children’s

                                   ringing  laughter  and  sweet  voices.       To  all  in­
                                   tents  and  purposes  the  palace  seemed  as  deserted
                                   as  it  had  been  the  day  before.  And  wondering

                                   at  all  this,  Eva  rose,  and  went  out  of  the  palace
                                   to look for her companions.

                                      They  had  returned;  but  when  she  saw  them
                                   she  understood why everything was so  still.  For,
                                   instead  of  the merry songs  and  joyous games  and

                                   dances with  which  they  had  been  accustomed  to
                                   begin  the day,  they were  gathered  in  little groups,

                                   and  every  face wore  a  sad  and  mournful  expres-

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