Nor was this all. For, even as the children gazed, there appeared in the calm water at the foot of the fountain a bud, folded in soft, green leaves; and, by slow degrees, as Eva looked, the bud rose from the encircling foliage, and its stem grew higher and higher, and then, slowly and gracefully, its pure white petals opened, like a fair and stainless ivory cup enfolding a golden torch, and it breathed forth the fragrance of many violets: and, as Eva looked, she knew that the search was over, and the pure white lily before them was Aster’s flower, won at last. Then Eva’s blue eyes shone with joy, and her fair cheeks flushed, and she turned to Aster: “Aster, be glad; for your flower is won, and all that remains is for you to pluck it.” “No,” he said, slowly; “that is not for me to do. I can only receive it as your gift, Eva; I am not worthy to gather it,--that can only be done by your hand.” And Eva, bending over the water, plucked the beautiful lily, with its long stem, and laid it in Aster’s hand. And, as his fingers clasped the gift, a swell of music thrilled through the air, and Eva saw, hovering over them, the two fair, white forms which had come before, and which she at once knew had, under the shapes of the toad and the Toad-Woman, led and advised her, and she pointed them out to Aster. And, as Aster raised his eyes to them, they beckoned to him, and smiled upon Eva; and she knew that all was over, and the moment had come for them to part. Still, not a word passed between them. Eva’s eyes were fixed upon Aster,--his were raised to the bright hovering forms. Then, holding the lily in his hand, he turned to Eva and pressed his lips to her brow. “That was the kiss with which you woke me, Eva, given back to you,--this is because I love you.” He kissed her lips, and as he did so a bright crimson light flashed suddenly around them, dazzling Eva’s blue eyes, so that she involuntarily closed them, and then the sweet breath of violets floated around them, and all was still. * * * * * Eva sat up, and rubbed her eyes. Tall, wavy grass grew all around her, violets, dandelions, and buttercups bloomed through it, and her lap was full of the pretty field-flowers. Bees were buzzing and collecting honey,--butterflies floated lazily about on their black-and-golden wings,--the brown beetle, with his long black feelers, swung on the tall grass-stalk,--the crickets chirped,--the snail had put out his horns,--the old mill-pond glistened and shone in the long, slanting rays of the setting sun,--there was her father’s house,--everything was just as it used to be, except the green toad, and that was a very important exception.