"Yes, dear, I see a bud; but I do not know anything more about it."

"Oh, Smith, do you not know that it is a rainbow lily!" And rising, she
took my hand and walked on again.

"What is the rainbow lily?"

"By-and-by, in a few days, it will be in fullest bloom, and the earth
will be covered with its glory."

"It is so late in the season, Yoletta! Spring is the time to see the
earth covered with the glory of flowers."

"There is nothing to equal the rainbow lily, which comes when most
flowers are dead, or have their bright colors tarnished. Have you lived
in the moon, Smith, that I have to tell you these things?"

"No, dear, but in that island where all things, including flowers, were
different."

"Ah, yes; tell me about the island."

Now "that island" was an unfortunate subject, and I was not prepared to
break the resolution I had made of prudently holding my tongue about its
peculiar institutions. "How can I tell you?--how could you imagine it if
I were to tell you?" I said, evading the question. "You have seen the
heavens black with tempests, and have felt the lightnings blinding your
eyes, and have heard the crash of the thunder: could you imagine all
that if you had never witnessed it, and I described it to you?"