was told me, and I also elicited, by means of some roundabout
questioning, that it was always in the mother's power to have any
per-son undergoing punishment taken to her, she being, as it were, above
the law. She could even pardon a delinquent and set him free if she felt
so minded, although in this case she had not chosen to exercise her
prerogative, probably because her "sufferings had not clouded her
understanding." They were treating her very hardly--father and mother
both--I thought in my bitterness.

The gradual opening of the rainbow lilies served only to remind me every
hour and every minute of that bright young spirit thus harshly deprived
of the pleasure she had so eagerly anticipated. She, above them all,
rejoiced in the beauty of this visible world, regarding nature in some
of its moods and aspects with a feeling almost bordering on adoration;
but, alas! she alone was shut out from this glory which God had spread
over the earth for the delight of all his children.

Now I knew why these autumnal flowers were called rainbow lilies, and
remembered how Yoletta had told me that they gave a beauty to the earth
which could not be described or imagined. The flowers were all
undoubtedly of one species, having the same shape and perfume, although
varying greatly in size, according to the nature of the soil on which
they grew. But in different situations they varied in color, one color
blending with, or passing by degrees into another, wherever the soil
altered its character. Along the valleys, where they first began to
bloom, and in all moist situations, the hue was yellow, varying,
according to the amount of moisture in different places, from pale
primrose to deep orange, this passing again into vivid scarlet and reds
of many shades. On the plains the reds prevailed, changing into various
purples on hills and mountain slopes; but high on the mountains the