"Just watch me," said Lady Bug.
Verotchka watched and wondered more and more. Lady Bug stretched out her strong upper wings and doubled in size; then she opened her thin cobwebby lower wings and grew still larger. She grew under Verotchka's very eyes and she became so large—large enough for Verotchka to sit comfortably upon her back between her red wings.
"Are you comfortable, Verotchka?" asked Lady Bug.
"Very," said Verotchka.
"Then hold on tight," said Lady Bug.
Then they flew. At first Verotchka was afraid and closed her eyes. It seemed to her that it was not she who was flying, but as if cities, woods, rivers and mountains were flying beneath her. Then it seemed as if she had grown small—as small as a pin head and as light as the down of Dandelion.
Lady Bug flew fast and faster, so fast that the air whistled through her wings.
"Look down, Verotchka," said Lady Bug.
Verotchka looked down and clapped her hands.
"Oh, how many Roses—red, yellow, white, pink," exclaimed Verotchka. The world seemed to be covered with a carpet of swaying Roses. "Let us descend," begged Verotchka of the Lady Bug.