vatory, for it is really exquisite.'

Here was a triumph! this was the hour to which she had so long looked
forward.

'At last, at last!' she murmured. 'Oh, if my old acquaintances could but
see me now, what would they say? I wish some of them were here.'

Not satisfied even yet! You see there is always an alloy in our greatest
earthly pleasures or triumphs--always a something wanting. Yet so
completely bewildered was she by this excess of gratified pride, that
she knew not whither she was borne, until, when the delirium, for such
it was, had passed, she found herself in a place which her wildest
imaginings never could have supposed possible--a wondrous glass palace,
filled with the most gorgeous flowers of all tints and forms, some
deliciously perfumed, making the air fragrant; whilst in the centre of
this palace a fountain rose and fell with soothing murmurs, scattering
its silvery spray upon exquisite blossoms that floated in the marble
basin. It was almost too lovely, and our little wayside friend sighed
with a sense of overpowering astonishment at the wondrous beauties
around, beauties that dazzled her unaccustomed eyes. Her place, however,
was upon one of the lower shelves, and above her head waved the feathery
leaves of tropical plants, which throve wonderfully well in the heated
atmosphere of this (to her) paradise.

Then she was left alone with her new associates--alone! how much that
word conveys!

After some time the other flowers became aware of a stranger having come
among them, and a flutter (as much as such well-bred creatures deigned
to evince) stirred their leaves and petals.

'What is she like?' asked a Maidenhair Fern, who from her position could
get not even a glimpse of the new arrival.

'Is she elegant and refined?' inquired a Camellia languidly.

'Is she fair or dark?' questioned Tea-Rose, with a faint breath.

'It matters not to me what she is,' murmured Ice-Plant coldly.

'Where does she come from?' whispered Myrtle to her neighbour Cape
Jasmine.

'From a hedgerow,' was the reply, but uttered so that all around her
heard the answer.

'Only a Wild-flower!' was the general exclamation. 'What presumption to
come amongst us!'

Then a chilling silence fell upon them all, except when they spoke to
each other; but, after that unlucky explanation of her origin, it was as
though they ignored her very existence--she was with them, still not of
them.

And, strange to say, our little frien