ous morning. The mist had gone, the sun had come, and all
the birds were singing their best tunes to welcome him. To Lilac they
sounded more than usually gay, as though they were telling each other
all sorts of pleasant things. "The sun is here--it is May Day--Lilac is
Queen." All the trees too, as they bent in the breeze, seemed to talk
together with busy murmurs and whisperings: they tossed their heads and
threw up their hands as if in surprise at some news, and then bowed low
and gracefully before her, for what they had heard was--"Lilac White is
Queen!"

Her heart danced so to listen to them that it was quite difficult to
keep her feet to a measured step, but when she reached the turn of the
hill something made her feel that she must look back. She turned slowly
round. There was Mother waving her hand at the gate. When they next
met it would be up in the woods, and Lilac would wear crown and garland.
She could not wave her hand or even nod in return, but she made a sort
of little curtsy and went on her way.

At the bottom of the hill she met Mrs Wishing, who, bent nearly double
by a heavy bundle, was crawling up from the village.

"Well, you look happy anyhow, Lilac White," she said mournfully. "And
you haven't forgotten to bring enough flowers with you either."

"I can't stop," said Lilac, "I've got to go and put these on Father
first. It's so far for Mother to come."

She gave a movement of her chin towards the primrose wreath which Mrs
White had added at the last moment to the heap of flowers.

"Ah! well," sighed Mrs Wishing, "in the midst of life we are in death.
I haven't much heart for junketing myself, but I shall be up yonder this
afternoon if I'm spared."

Lilac passed quickly on, nodding and smiling in return to the greetings
which met her. At the door of the shop stood Mr Dimbleby, his face
heavier than usual with importance, and a little farther on she saw her
Uncle Greenways' wagon and team waiting in charge of Ben, who leant
lazily against one of the horses. Mr Greenways always lent a wagon on
May Day so that the very old people and small children might drive up
the worst part of the hill. Certainly it was there in plenty of time,
for it would not be wanted till the afternoon; but it is always well not
to be hurried on such occasions, and many of the people had to walk from
outlying hamlets.

Lilac laid her primroses on her father's grave, and turned back towards
the school-house j