The Young Queens 



itself, or from the force whence that being 

 draws life ? I will not say " it matters but 

 little," for, on the contrary, to know the 

 answer were of supreme importance to us. 

 But, in the meantime, and till we shall learn 

 whether it be the flower that endeavours 

 to maintain and perfect the life that nature 

 has placed within it, or whether it be na- 

 ture that puts forth an effort to maintain 

 and improve the degree of existence the 

 flower has assumed, or finally whether it 

 be chance that ultimately governs chance, 

 a multitude of semblances invite us to 

 believe that something equal to our lof- 

 tiest thoughts issues at times from a com- 

 mon source, that we are compelled to 

 admire without knowing where it resides. 

 There are moments when what seems 

 error to us comes forth from this com- 

 mon source. But, although we know 

 very few things, proofs abound that the 

 seeming error was in reality an act of 

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