"But we haven't got any flowers," said Milly, looking at it presently,
with a dissatisfied face, "you always have flowers on the table at home,
mother."
"Why, Milly, have you forgotten your water-lilies; where did you leave
them?"
"Down by the water," said Milly. "Father told me just to put their
stalks in the water, and he put a stone to keep them safe. Oh! that'll
be splendid, mother. Do give me a cup, and we'll get some water for
them."
Mother found a cup, and the children scrambled down to the edge of the
lake. There lay the lilies with their stalks in the water, close to the
boat.
"They look rather sad, mother, don't they?" said Milly, gathering them
up. "Perhaps they don't like being taken away from their home."
"They never look so beautiful out of the water," said mother; "but when
we get home we'll put them into a soup-plate, and let them swim about in
it. They'll look very nice then. Now, Olly, fill the cup with water, and
we'll put five or six of the biggest in, and gather some leaves."
"There, look! look! Aunt Emma," shouted Milly, when they had put the
lilies and some fern leaves in the middle of the table. "Haven't we made
it beautiful?"
"That you have," said Aunt Emma, coming up with the kettle which had
just boiled. "Now for the tea, and then we're ready.
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