The shrubbery was no longer a dismal mass of darkness, but showed all manner of shadings of glossy green leaves, which the moisture of the night had ornamented with shimmering edges of crystal beads.

She found the phantom of the night before browsing among flowers behind the cottage, and very kindly disposed to make her acquaintance.

As he had a thistle blossom sticking out of his mouth, she forthwith named him Thistle.

She soon returned to the house with her apron full of vines, and blossoms, and prettily tinted leaves.

"See, Tulee," said she, "what a many flowers! I'm going to make haste and dress the table, before Gerald and Rosa come to breakfast." They took graceful shape under her nimble fingers, and, feeling happy in her work, she began to hum, "How brightly breaks the morning!" "Whisper low!" sang Gerald, stealing up behind her, and making her start by singing into her very ear; while Rosa exclaimed, "What a fairy-land you have made here, with all these flowers,_pichoncita mia_" The day passed pleasantly enough, with some ambling along the bridle-paths on Thistle's back, some reading and sleeping, and a good deal of music.