The ringdove’s wing is flitting o’er my head,

Casting at times a silvery shadow down

Midst the large water-lilies. Beautiful!

How beautiful is all this fair, free world

Under God’s open sky!

Mother. Thou art o’erwrought

Once more, my child! The dewy, trembling light

Presaging tears, again is in thine eye.

Oh, hush, dear Lilian! turn thee to repose.

Lilian. Mother! I cannot. In my soul the thoughts