going to break in pieces, and die on the spot.

When the sky began to grow gray in the early morning it could hold
out no longer. "I can't make it out," it said in despair. "I am
tormented and worried, and I don't know what will be the end of it.
Perhaps the Water-Lily is right, and I shall never be anything else
but a poor, miserable Larva. But that is a fearful thing to think
of. I did so long to become a Dragon-Fly and fly about in the sun.
Oh, my back! my back! I do believe I am dying!"

It had a feeling as if its back was splitting, and it shrieked with
pain. At that moment there was a rustle among the rushes on the
bank of the stream.

"That's the morning breeze," thought the Larva; "I shall at least
see the sun when I die." And with great trouble it crawled up one
of the leaves of the Water-Lily, stretched out its legs, and made
ready to die.

But when the sun rose, like a red ball, in the east, suddenly it
felt a hole in the middle of its back. It had a creepy, tickling
feeling, and then a feeling of tightness and oppression. Oh, it was
torture without end! Being bewildered, it closed its eyes; but it
still felt as though it were being squeezed and crushed. At last it
suddenly noticed that it was free; and when it opened its eyes it
was floating through the air on stiff, shining wings, a beautiful
Dragon-Fly. Down on the leaf of the Water-Lily lay its ugly gray
Larva case.

"Hurrah!" cried the new Dragon-Fly. "So I have got my darling wish