"This will do for a time; as Fancy is getting strong, and not entirely wasting her days, thanks to me! But our holiday is nearly over; and, as soon as I get back to town, I'll take that child to the Ragged Refuge, and see what they can make of her," said Uncle Fact, who was never quite satisfied about Lorelei; because he could find out so little concerning her. He was walking over the beach as he said this, after a hard day's work on his encyclopaedia. He sat down on a rock in a quiet place; and, instead of enjoying the lovely sunset, he fell to studying the course of the clouds, the state of the tide, and the temperature of the air, till the sound of voices made him peep over the rock. Fancy and her friend were playing there, and the old gentleman waited to see what they were about. Both were sitting with their little bare feet in the water; Lorelei was stringing pearls, and Fancy plaiting a crown of pretty green rushes. "I wish I could go home, and get you a string of finer pearls than these," said Lorelei; "but it is too far away, and I cannot swim now as I used to do." "I must look into this. The girl evidently knows all about herself, and can tell, if she chooses," muttered Uncle Fact, getting rather excited over this discovery. "Never mind the pearls: I'd rather have you, dear," said Fancy lovingly. "Tell me a story while we work, or sing me a song; and I'll give you my crown." "I'll sing you a little song that has got what your uncle calls a moral to it," said Lorelei, laughing mischievously. Then, in her breezy little voice, she sang the story of-- THE ROCK AND THE BUBBLE. Oh! a bare, brown rock Stood up in the sea, The waves at its feet Dancing merrily. A little bubble Came sailing by, And thus to the rock Did it gayly cry,-- "Ho! clumsy brown stone, Quick, make way for me: I'm the fairest thing That floats on the sea. "See my rainbow-robe, See my crown of light, My glittering form, So airy and bright. "O'er the waters blue, I'm floating away, To dance by the shore With the foam and spray. "Now, make way, make way; For the waves are strong, And their rippling feet Bear me fast along." But the great rock stood Straight up in the sea: It looked gravely down, And said pleasantly,-- "Little friend, you must Go some other way; For I have not stirred This many a long day. "Great billows have dashed, And angry winds blown; But my sturdy form Is not overthrown. "Nothing can stir me In the air or sea; Then, how can I move, Little friend, for thee?"