BUT the Dragon-fly was fleet, and gratitude strengthened her wings to pay
her host the honour she owed him. And truly, in the dim twilight good
counsel and guidance were scarce. She flitted hither and thither without
knowing rightly what was to be done; when, by the last vanishing sunbeam,
she saw hanging on the edge of the cave some strawberries who had drunk
so deep of the evening-red, that their heads were quite heavy. Then she
flew up to a Harebell who stood near, and whispered in her ear that the
lord and king of all the flowers was in the wood, and ought to be
received and welcomed as beseemed his dignity. Aglaia did not need that
this should be repeated. She began to ring her sweet bells with all her
might; and when her neighbour heard the sound, she rang hers also; and
soon all the Harebells, great and small, were in motion, and rang as if
it had been for the nuptials of their Mother Earth herself with the
Prince of the Sun. The tone of the Bluebells was deep and rich, and that
of the white, high and clear, and all blended together in a delicious
harmony.
But the birds were fast asleep in their high nests, and the ears of the
other animals were not delicate enough, or were too much overgrown with
hair, to hear them. The Fire-flies alone heard the joyous peal, for they
were akin to the flowers, through their common ancestor, Light. They
inquired of their nearest relation, the Lily of the Valley, and from her
they heard that a large flower had just passed along the footpath more
blooming than the loveliest rose, and with two stars more brilliant than
those of the brightest fire-fly, and that it must needs be their King.
Then all the Fire-flies flew up and down the footpath, and sought
everywhere, till at length they came, as the Dragon-fly had hoped they
would, to the cave.
And now, as they looked at the Child, and every one of them saw itself
reflected in his clear eyes, they rejoiced exceedingly, and called all
their fellows together, and alighted on the bushes all around; and soon
it was so light in the cave, that herb and grass began to grow as if it
had been broad day. Now, indeed, was the joy and triumph of the
Dragon-fly complete. The Child was delighted with the merry and silvery
tones of the bells, and with the many little bright-eyed companions
around him, and with the deep red strawberries which bowed down their
heads to his touch.