"The creature has got its desire at any rate," thought the water-lily. "Let us see if it will be any the happier for it."
Two days later the dragon-fly came flying back, and seated itself on the flower of the water-lily.
"Oh, good-morning," said the water-lily. "Do I see you once more? I thought you had grown too fine to greet your old friends."
"Good-day," said the dragon-fly. "Where shall I lay my eggs?"
"Oh, you are sure to find some place," answered the flower. "Sit down for a bit, and tell me if you are any happier now than when you were crawling up and down my stalk, a little ugly larva."
"Where shall I lay my eggs? Where shall I lay my eggs?" screamed the dragon-fly, and flew humming around from place to place, laid one here and one there, and finally seated itself, tired and weary, on one of the leaves.
"Well?" said the water-lily.
"Oh, it was better in the old days—much better," sighed the dragon-fly. "The sunshine is really delightful, and it is a real pleasure to fly over the water; but I have no time to enjoy it. I have been so terribly busy, I tell you. In the old days I had nothing to think about; now I have to fly about all day long to get my silly eggs disposed of. I haven't a moment free. I have scarcely time to eat."