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The Story of Vain Lamorna.

“No,” said Erick, surprised; “see, there it is, as bright as ever.”

Lamorna bent over the water again, and again drew back trembling, for her pretty reflection had quite disappeared, and she could see it nowhere.

“Erick,” she cried, “I don’t feel well. Will you help me to go home?”

Erick jumped up at once, and lifted her tenderly across the rocks, and helped her up the beach to her house.

Meantime the water elves were almost wild with delight. They were pleased at the thought that they were helping Erick; but they were also pleased for themselves, that they had got such a pretty new plaything as Lamorna’s reflection. It was thirty times as big as any of them, and they had to keep it tied down, lest it should rise to the surface and float away. So they found a special grotto for it—between some large rocks, and there they fastened it down—and all were allowed to look at it, though no one might touch it, for fear it should be injured. It looked very pretty, with the bright red kerchief over the head, and the lips smiling sweetly just as Lamorna’s had smiled when she bent over the water.

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