An Unfortunate Lily Maid

OF course you must be Elaine, Anne," said Diana. "I could never
have the courage to float down there."

"Nor I," said Ruby Gillis, with a shiver. "I don't mind floating
down when there's two or three of us in the flat and we can sit up.
It's fun then. But to lie down and pretend I was dead--I just couldn't.
I'd die really of fright."

"Of course it would be romantic," conceded Jane Andrews, "but I
know I couldn't keep still. I'd be popping up every minute or so
to see where I was and if I wasn't drifting too far out. And you
know, Anne, that would spoil the effect."

"But it's so ridiculous to have a redheaded Elaine," mourned
Anne. "I'm not afraid to float down and I'd love to be Elaine.
But it's ridiculous just the same. Ruby ought to be Elaine
because she is so fair and has such lovely long golden hair--
Elaine had `all her bright hair streaming down,' you know.
And Elaine was the lily maid. Now, a red-haired person cannot
be a lily maid."

"Your complexion is just as fair as Ruby's," said Diana
earnestly, "and your hair is ever so much darker than it used to
be before you cut it."

"Oh, do you really think so?" exclaimed Anne, flushing
sensitively with delight. "I've sometimes thought it was
myself--but I never dared to ask anyone for fear she would tell
me it wasn't. Do you think it could be called auburn now, Diana?"