CROCUSES AND THE SNOWDROP 31 



the south wind. She was in the dungeon with the 

 green knight, listening to the stories she loved, when 

 suddenly the walls of the snow palace began to trem- 

 ble and fall. It was the breath of the south wind. 

 The little Snow maiden knew it was death ; she was 

 frightened, and trembled and wept. Then the 

 knight Galanthus took her in his arms j but it was 

 of no use : in a moment he was changed, too. The 

 beautiful green armor became dull and brown, and 

 the knight was as if he was dead. But he still held 

 the little Snow maiden in his arms, and they sank 

 together into the ground, down, down ! 



"Now, the ground is a wonderful place, and the 

 Mother Earth was sorry for the little Snow maiden 

 because she had lost her playmates ; so she promised 

 her that she might go back to the light again to find 

 them. 



"So every year the little snowdrop comes up from 

 the earth. She must wait all the winter until Galan- 

 thus can push his way through the ground ; and as 

 soon as he can he lifts the little Snow maiden in his 

 arms, and he folds her close in his green cloak, so she 

 is not frightened ; then he takes his green lance with 

 the silver point and pushes his way up to the light. 



"But the Snow maiden is always just too late : the 



