"I will not have anything to do with any of you," she said, giving the flower a push to send it away from the window.
But no sooner had she touched it than the flower shrank to its natural size, and remained in her hand, which was so tightly closed that she could not open it again.
"Away, away,
Each elf and fay!"
murmured the lily; and there was a soft rush as of many tiny wings, and the girl felt herself carried through the air.
This was the work of the wood-elves, who were there to help the lily. But the girl scarcely knew what was happening; she was listening to the music, which was so grand and beautiful that she forgot everything else.
"she held the lily in her hand"
III.
Was the girl the fairy queen? She began to think that she must be, as she sat on some marble steps in the wood. She was dressed in white, and had long silk stockings; and a veil of shining gossamer was fastened on her head with a gold band, and it fell down to her feet, and wrapped her round like a glittering cloud, and she held the lily in her hand. And the music pealed on like a grand triumphal march, and made the girl feel very proud and joyful.
Not very far off there was a carved chair, with some velvet cushions upon it.