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The roots were coveredwith earth； and fresh turf was laid on top。 Blooming shrubs andflowers in pots were ranged around； and thus a little garden arosein the square。
The tree that had been killed by the fumes of gas； the steam ofkitchens； and the bad air of the city； was put upon the wagon anddriven away。 The passers…by looked on。 Children and old men sat uponthe bench； and looked at the green tree。 And we who are telling thisstory stood upon a balcony； and looked down upon the green springsight that had been brought in from the fresh country air； and said；what the old clergyman would have said； 〃Poor Dryad！〃
〃I am happy！ I am happy！〃 the Dryad cried； rejoicing； 〃and yet Icannot realize； cannot describe what I feel。 Everything is as Ifancied it； and yet as I did not fancy it。〃
The houses stood there； so lofty； so close！ The sunlight shoneon only one of the walls； and that one was stuck over with bills andplacards； before which the people stood still； and this made a crowd。
Carriages rushed past； carriages rolled past； light ones and heavyones mingled together。 Omnibuses； those over…crowded moving houses；came rattling by； horsemen galloped among them； even carts andwagons asserted their rights。
The Dryad asked herself if these high…grown houses； which stood soclose around her； would not remove and take other shapes； like theclouds in the sky； and draw aside； so that she might cast a glanceinto Paris； and over it。 Notre Dame must show itself； the VendomeColumn； and the wondrous building which had called and was stillcalling so many strangers to the city。
But the houses did not stir from their places。 It was yet day whenthe lamps were lit。 The gas…jets gleamed from the shops； and shoneeven into the branches of the trees； so that it was like sunlight insummer。 The stars above made their appearance； the same to which theDryad had looked up in her home。 She thought she felt a clear purestream of air which went forth from them。 She felt herself lifted upand strengthened； and felt an increased power of seeing throughevery leaf and through every fibre of the root。 Amid all the noise andthe turmoil； the colors and the lights； she knew herself watched bymild eyes。
From the side streets sounded the merry notes of fiddles andwind instruments。 Up！ to the dance； to the dance！ to jollity andpleasure！ that was their invitation。 Such music it was； that horses；carriages； trees； and houses would have danced； if they had known how。The charm of intoxicating delight filled the bosom of the Dryad。
〃How glorious； how splendid it is！〃 she cried； rejoicingly。 〃Now Iam in Paris！〃
The next day that dawned； the next night that fell； offered thesame spectacle； similar bustle； similar life； changing； indeed； yetalways the same； and thus it went on through the sequence of days。
〃Now I know every tree； every flower on the square here！ I knowevery house； every balcony； every shop in this narrow cut…offcorner； where I am denied the sight of this great mighty city。 Whereare the arches of triumph； the Boulevards； the wondrous building ofthe world？ I see nothing of all this。 As if shut up in a cage； I standamong the high houses； which I now know by heart； with theirinscriptions； signs； and placards； all the painted confectionery； thatis no longer to my taste。 Where are all the things of which I heard；for which I longed； and for whose sake I wanted to e hither？ whathave I seized； found； won？ I feel the same longing I felt before； Ifeel that there is a life I should wish to grasp and to experience。I must go out into the ranks of living men； and mingle among them。 Imust fly about like a bird。 I must see and feel； and bee humanaltogether。 I must enjoy the one half…day； instead of vegetating foryears in every…day sameness and weariness； in which I bee ill；and at last sink and disappear like the dew on the meadows。 I willgleam like the cloud； gleam in the sunshine of life； look out over thewhole like the cloud； and pass away like it； no one knoweth whither。〃
Thus sighed the Dryad； and she prayed：
〃Take from me the years that were destined for me； and give me buthalf of the life of the ephemeral fly！ Deliver me from my prison！ Giveme human life； human happiness； only a short span； only the one night；if it cannot be otherwise； and then punish me for my wish to live；my longing for life！ Strike me out of thy list。 Let my shell； thefresh young tree； wither； or be hewn down； and burnt to ashes； andscattered to all the winds！〃
A rustling went through the leaves of the tree； there was atrembling in each of the leaves； it seemed as if fire streamed throughit。 A gust of wind shook its green crown； and from the midst of thatcrown a female figure came forth。 In the same moment she was sittingbeneath the brightly…illuminated leafy branches； young and beautifulto behold； like poor Mary； to whom the clergyman had said； 〃Thegreat city will be thy destruction。〃
The Dryad sat at the foot of the tree… at her house door； whichshe had locked； and whose key had thrown away。 So young！ so fair！The stars saw her； and blinked at her。 The gas…lamps saw her； andgleamed and beckoned to her。 How delicate she was； and yet howblooming！… a child； and yet a grown maiden！ Her dress was fine assilk； green as the freshly…opened leaves on the crown of the tree；in her nut…brown hair clung a half…opened chestnut blossom。 She lookedlike the Goddess of Spring。
For one short minute she sat motionless； then she sprang up；and； light as a gazelle； she hurried away。 She ran and sprang like thereflection from the mirror that； carried by the sunshine； is cast； nowhere； now there。 Could any one have followed her with his eyes； hewould have seen how marvellously her dress and her form changed；according to the nature of the house or the place whose light happenedto shine upon her。
She reached the Boulevards。 Here a sea of light streamed forthfrom the gas…flames of the lamps； the shops and the cafes。 Herestood in a row young and slender trees； each of which concealed itsDryad； and gave shade from the artificial sunlight。 The whole vastpavement was one great festive hall； where covered tables stoodladen with refreshments of all kinds； from champagne and Chartreusedown to coffee and beer。 Here was an exhibition of flowers； statues；books； and colored stuffs。
From the crowd close by the lofty houses she looked forth over theterrific stream beyond the rows of trees。 Yonder heaved a stream ofrolling carriages； cabriolets； coaches； omnibuses； cabs； and amongthem riding gentlemen and marching troops。 To cross to the oppositeshore was an undertaking fraught with danger to life and limb。 Nowlanterns shed their radiance abroad； now the gas had the upper hand；suddenly a rocket rises！ Whence？ Whither？
Here are sounds of soft Italian melodies； yonder； Spanish songsare sung； acpanied by the rattle of the castas； but strongest ofall； and predominating over the rest； the street…organ tunes of themoment； the exciting 〃Can…Can〃 music； which Orpheus never knew； andwhich was never heard by the 〃Belle Helene。〃 Even the barrow wastempted to hop upon one of its wheels。
The Dryad danced； floated； flew； changing her color everymoment； like a humming…bird in the sunshine； each house； with theworld belonging to it； gave her its own reflections。
As the glowing lotus…flower； torn from its stem； is carried awayby the stream； so the Dryad drifted along。 Whenever she paused； shewas another being； so that none was able to follow her； to recognizeher； or to look more closely at her。
Like cloud…pictures； all things flew by her。 She looked into athousand faces； but not one was familiar to her； she saw not asingle form from home。 Two bright eyes had remained in her memory。 Shethought of Mary； poor Mary； the ragged merry child； who wore the redflowers in her black hair。 Mary was now here； in the world…city；rich and magnificent as in that day when she drove past the house ofthe old clergyman； and past the tree of the Dryad； the old oak。
Here she was certainly living； in the deafening tumult。 Perhapsshe had just stepped out of one of the gorgeous carriages inwaiting。 Handsome equipages； with coachmen in gold braid and footmenin silken hose； drove up。 The people who alighted from them were allrichly…dressed