The Larva sat thinking for a minute or two. "I have a longing for
something greater," it said at last. "If I had my will, I would be
a Dragon-Fly. I would fly on strong, stiff wings along the stream,
kiss your white flower, rest a moment on your leaves, and then fly
on."

"You are ambitious," answered the Water-Lily, "and that is stupid
of you. One knows what one has, but one does not know what one may
get. May I, by the way, make so bold as to ask you how you would
set about becoming a Dragon-Fly? You don't look as if that was what
you were born for. In any case you will have to grow a little
prettier, you gray, ugly thing,"

"Yes, that is the worst part of it," the Larva answered sadly. "I
don't know myself how it will come about, but I hope it _will_
come about some time or other. That is why I crawl about down here
and eat all the little creatures I can get hold of."

"Then you think you can attain to something great _by feeding!
_" the Water-Lily said, with a laugh. "That would be a funny way
of getting up in the world."

"Yes; but I believe it is the right way for me!" cried the
Dragon-Fly Grub earnestly. "All day long I go on eating till I get
fat and big; and one fine day, as I think, all my fat will turn
into wings with gold on them, and everything else that belongs to a
proper Dragon-Fly!"

The Water-Lily shook its clever white head, "Put away your silly