She laid down the oars presently, and amused herself with the flowers,
picking them to pieces and scattering the petals in the water, leaning
over the side of the boat, talking to the fishes, and bidding them eat
what she gave them, "for it was good, much better and daintier than bread
crumbs."
The breeze came from the direction to take her farther from the shore, and
soon wafted her out to the middle of the lake, but she went on with her
new diversion, taking no note of her whereabouts.
It was just about this time that Elsie reached the spot and sat down to
her day dreams.
Enna, for she it was who occupied the boat, did not see her niece at
first, but after a little, growing weary of her sport with the flowers,
she threw them from her, took up an oar again, and glancing toward the
land, as she dipped it in the water, her eye fell upon the graceful
white-robed figure seated there underneath the trees, and she instantly
called out to her as we have related.
Elsie was much alarmed; concerned for the safety of the poor lunatic.
There was no knowing what mad freak might seize her at any moment; no one
was within call, and that being the only boat there, there was no way of
reaching her until she should return to the shore of her own accord; if
indeed, she was capable of managing the boat so as to reach the land if
she desired to do so.
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