"Poor flowers are quite dead," said little Ida, "they were so pretty yesterday
evening, and now all leaves are hanging down quite withered. What do they do that
for," she asked, of the student who sat on the sofa; she liked him very much, he
could tell the most amusing stories, and cut out the prettiest pictures; hearts,
and ladies dancing, castles with doors that opened, as well as flowers; he was a delightful
student. "why do the flowers look so faded to-day?" she asked again, and pointed to her nosegay,
which was quite withered.
"Don't you know what is the matter with them?" said the student. "The flowers were at a ball last
night, and therefore, it is no wonder they hang their heads."
"But flowers cannot dance?" cried little Ida.
"Yes indeed, they can," replied the student. "When it grows dark, and everybody is asleep, they
jump about quite merrily. They have a ball almost every night."
"Can children go to these balls?"
"Yes," said the student, "little daisies and lilies of the valley."
"Where do the beautiful flowers dance?" asked little Ida.
"Have you not often seen the large castle outside the gates of the town, where the King lives in
summer, and where the beautiful garden is full of flowers? And have you not fed the swans with
bread when they swam towards you? Well, the flowers have capital balls there, believe me."
"I was in the garden out there yesterday with my mother," said Ida, "but all the leaves were off
the trees, and there was not a single flower left. Where are they? I used to see so many in the
summer."
"They are in the castle," replied the student. "You must know that as soon as the King and all the
court are gone into the town, the flowers run out of the garden into the castle, and you should
see how merry they are. The two most beautiful roses seat themselves on the throne, and are called
the King and Queen, then all the red cockscombs range themselves on each side, and bow, these are
the lords-in -waiting. After that the pretty flowers come in, and there is a grand ball. The blue
violets represent little naval cadets, and dance with hyacinths and crocuses which they call young
ladies. The tulips and tiger-lilies are the old ladies who sit and watch the dancing, so that
everything may be conducted with order and propriety."
"But," said little Ida, "is there no one there to hurt the flowers for danceing in the King's
castle?"
"No one knows anything about it," said the student. "The old steward of the castle, who has to
watch there at night, sometimes comes in; but he carries a great bunch of keys, and as soon as
the flowers hear the keys rattle, they run and hide themselves behind the long curtains, and stand
quite still, just peeping their heads out. Then the old steward says, 'I smell flowers here,' but
he cannot see them."
"Oh how capital," said little Ida, clapping her hands. "Should I be able to see these flowers?"
"Yes," said the student, "mind you think of it the next time you go out, no doubt you will see
them, if you peep through the window. I did so to-day, and I saw a long yellow lily lying
stretched out on the sofa. She was a court lady."