THE LILY OF THE VALLEY.
Roland rubbed his eyes; before him stood a child, a little girl in a snow-while dress and blue sash. Her face was rosy, great blue eyes beamed out from it, and long golden curls hung loose over her neck. In her hand she held a bunch of wild-flowers.
Griffin stood in front of the child, and kept her from coming nearer.
"Back, Griffin!" cried Roland, rising; the dog fell behind his master.
"This is the German forest!" said the child with a foreign accent, and a voice that might belong to a princess in a fairy tale. "This is the German forest! I have only been gathering flowers. Are you the forest prince?"
"No, but who are you?"
"I have come from America. My uncle brought me here this morning, and now I am to stay in Germany."
"Come, Lilian! Where are you staying so long?" cried a man's voice from the road.
Roland saw through the trees an open carriage, and a tall, stately gentleman with snow-white hair.
"I'm coming directly," answered the child; "I have some beautiful flowers."