THE ELFIN EXILE. 51 



the blighting sea-breeze, until they should reach the land of 

 promise. Strange to say, out of all the vast field of flowers 

 that makes England a garden, the girl unconsciously selected 

 those in which Mimosa was immured. 



Enclosed in her narrow cell, with the light coining dimly to 

 her eyes through the green walls of her prison-house, Mimosa 

 was weeping over her unmerited punishment, when suddenly 

 she felt the earth convulsed around her. The slender limbs of 

 the plant swayed as if a mighty tempest had burst upon them, 

 and the timid fairy swung at the mercy of the blast, without 

 power to discover the cause of this unwonted disquiet. Every 

 fibre of her tender frame felt the vibration of this sudden dis- 

 ruption of deeply ooted attachments, and though unconscious 

 of the fate that awaited her, Mimosa trembled with vague fear. 



A long and weary tossing on the restless sea now ensued. 

 But of this Mimosa knew nothing, for, imprisoned in her dun- 

 geon, which was now in total darkness, since the plant had 

 been shut up in a close and ill-lighted cabin, she could see no- 

 thing of the terrors which surrounded her. But she thirsted 

 for the fresh dew of the morning, she pined for the honey that 

 lies hidden in the perfumed chalice of the flower, and she grew 

 wild with longing for the pure air and the bright sunshine. Still 

 her gentle influences were not unfelt, for the plant, as if con- 

 scious of her presence, grew_and thrived as luxuriantly as if it 

 still bloomed on its mossy bank, and the sweet lady, who loved 

 it for the sake of her native land, rejoiced in its vigorous life. 



