`` It is a great pity , '' said Proserpina . `` But do you wait for me here , and I will run and gather my apron full of flowers , and be back again before the surf wave has broken ten times over you . I long to make you some wreaths that shall be as lovely as this necklace of many colored shells . '' `` We will wait , then , '' answered the sea nymphs . `` But while you are gone , we may as well lie down on a bank of soft sponge under the water . The air to-day is a little too dry for our comfort . But we will pop up our heads every few minutes to see if you are coming . '' The young Proserpina ran quickly to a spot where , only the day before , she had seen a great many flowers . These , however , were now a little past their bloom ; and wishing to give her friends the freshest and loveliest blossoms , she strayed farther into the fields , and found some that made her scream with delight . Never had she met with such exquisite flowers before -- violets so large and fragrant -- roses with so rich and delicate a blush -- such superb hyacinths and such aromatic pinks -- and many others , some of which seemed to be of new shapes and colors . Two or three times , moreover , she could not help thinking that a tuft of most splendid flowers had suddenly sprouted out of the earth before her very eyes , as if on purpose to tempt her a few steps farther . Proserpina 's apron was soon filled , and brimming over with delightful blossoms . She was on the point of turning back in order to rejoin the sea nymphs , and sit with them on the moist sands , all twining wreaths together . But , a little farther on , what should she behold ? It was a large shrub , completely covered with the most magnificent flowers in the world . `` The darlings ! '' cried Proserpina ; and then she thought to herself , `` I was looking at that spot only a moment ago . How strange it is that I did not see the flowers ! '' The nearer she approached the shrub , the more attractive it looked , until she came quite close to it ; and then , although its beauty was richer than words can tell , she hardly knew whether to like it or not . It bore above a hundred flowers of the most brilliant hues , and each different from the others , but all having a kind of resemblance among themselves , which showed them to be sister blossoms .
But there was a deep , glossy luster on the leaves of the shrub , and XXXXX the petals of the flowers , that made Proserpina doubt whether they might not be poisonous .
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