faces and fair forms, and little Eva, as she stood beside the Queen, thought she had never seen a sight so lovely.
The many-colored shadows of the fairest flowers played on the pure white walls, and fountains sparkled in the sunlight, making music as the cool waves rose and fell, while to and fro, with waving wings and joyous voices, went the smiling Elves, bearing fruit and honey, or fragrant garlands for each other's hair.
Long they feasted, gayly they sang, and Eva, dancing merrily among them, longed to be an Elf that she might dwell for ever in so fair a home.
At length the music ceased, and the Queen said, as she laid her hand on little Eva's shining hair:—
"Dear child, to-morrow we must bear you home, for, much as we long to keep you, it were wrong to bring such sorrow to your loving earthly friends; therefore we will guide you to the brook-side, and there say farewell till you come again to visit us. Nay, do not weep, dear Rose-Leaf; you shall watch over little Eva's flowers, and when she looks at them she will think of
