A Crystal Age

noon from the fields, on entering my cell I beheld my beautiful new garments-two complete suits, besides underwear: one, the

shoes, fitted to perfection. Green was the prevailing or ground tint-a soft sap green; the pattern on it, which was very beautiful, being a somewhat obscure red, inclining to purple. My delight culminated when I drew on the hose, which

m assembled and waiting to see and admire the result of their work. The pleasure I saw reflected in their transparent faces increased

abate a little. "Why is green the principal color in my clothes, wh

; for it all at once occurred to me that green was perhaps the color f

ng?" said Edra, placing her white hands on my

her eyes so near to mine! "Tell me why, Edra

yes and skin-would this green t

, you would look very beautiful in any color that is on the earth, or

air has a very different color. It will look better when it grows long, I think. And your eyes-do you

have taken so much pains to make them-well, what shall I say?-harmonize, I suppose, with the

blundering did not so much matter, since I had shed my outer integument

to seek her. She was standing under the portico waiting for me. "Come," she said, and proceeded to lead me into the music-room, wher

with the grave air of a young schoolmistress; "and every a

nd that it will take me a l

am glad you think that; but if you prefer me for a teacher you must not try

eally do tha

ient temper. Everything wrong I have ever done, for which

sad punishment of being shut up by

eel the sun and wind on my face, to see the earth and sky and animals-this is like life to me; and when I am shut up alone, every day seems-oh, a year at least!" She did not know how much

not said anything about them? Do I look n

ked you a little because I knew what a pretty butterfly you

and explaining them to me; and at the conclusion of the lesson, I had got a general idea th

to teach me to sing also?" I asked

y mind. I had begun to think that I had not done myself justice on that memorable occasion,

startled at my quest

k like cobbler's wax-I beg your pardon, I mean I will endeavor to adhere to the morendo and perdendosi style-don't you kno

ith slow steps to the dais, and placing her hands on the keys, caused two o

her hand apprehensively. "No, no, no;

na's exquisite M'appar sulla tomba, the only melody I happened to know which had any resemblance to their divine music. To my surprise she seemed to play as I sang a suitable accompaniment on the globes, which aided and encouraged me, and, althoug

ng something

ied absently, slowly walking acr

of, Yoletta, that you l

returned, a lit

then. But you have not said one word

tasting little kernel in a very rough ri

d very flattering to me. But if you would like to know the song I shall be only

?" she sai

of the so

by the words of a song. Do

down I divided my attention between my beautiful hose and Yoletta

long we repaired to the eating-room, where, for the next two or three hours, we occupied ourselves very

rising from his seat, stood for a few minutes talking near me, while Yoletta, with her hand on his arm, waited for him to finish. W

l I guess what has inspired you to-day? You have been listening to the passage birds. I also heard them this morning pass

grass has not yet grown to hide the ashes and loose mold." He stooped and kissed her forehead, and then left

s; now, however, after overhearing this conversation, I knew that on this particular occasion it would be Yoletta, and in spite of the

I had ever heard her sing came back to me, ringing in my mind with a wonderful joy, but ever ending in a strange, funereal sadness. And not only my mother, but many a dear one besides returned "in beauty from the dust" appeared to be present-white-haired old men who had spoken treasured words to me in bygone years; schoolfellows and other boyish friends and companions; and men, too, in the prime of life, of whose premature death in this or that far-off region of the world-wide English empire I had heard from time to time. They came back to me, until the whole room seemed filled with a pale, shadowy procession, moving past me to the sound of that mysterious melody. Through all the evening it came back, in a hundred bewildering disguises, filling me with a melancholy infinitely precious, which was yet almost more than my heart could