soul　of　a　man　and　a　maid。
  And　a　delicate　flush　of　pink　came　into　the　leaves　of　the　rose；　like
  the　flush　in　the　face　of　the　bridegroom　when　he　kisses　the　lips　of
  the　bride。　　But　the　thorn　had　not　yet　reached　her　heart；　so　the
  rose's　heart　remained　white；　for　only　a　Nightingale's　heart's…blood
  can　crimson　the　heart　of　a　rose。
  And　the　Tree　cried　to　the　Nightingale　to　press　closer　against　the
  thorn。　　〃Press　closer；　little　Nightingale；〃　cried　the　Tree；　〃or　the
  Day　will　come　before　the　rose　is　finished。〃
  So　the　Nightingale　pressed　closer　against　the　thorn；　and　the　thorn
  touched　her　heart；　and　a　fierce　pang　of　pain　shot　through　her。
  Bitter；　bitter　was　the　pain；　and　wilder　and　wilder　grew　her　song；
  for　she　sang　of　the　Love　that　is　perfected　by　Death；　of　the　Love
  that　dies　not　in　the　tomb。
  And　the　marvellous　rose　became　crimson；　like　the　rose　of　the
  eastern　sky。　　Crimson　was　the　girdle　of　petals；　and　crimson　as　a
  ruby　was　the　heart。
  But　the　Nightingale's　voice　grew　fainter；　and　her　little　wings
  began　to　beat；　and　a　film　came　over　her　eyes。　　Fainter　and　fainter
  grew　her　song；　and　she　felt　something　choking　her　in　her　throat。
  Then　she　gave　one　last　burst　of　music。　　The　white　Moon　heard　it；
  and　she　forgot　the　dawn；　and　lingered　on　in　the　sky。　　The　red　rose
  heard　it；　and　it　trembled　all　over　with　ecstasy；　and　opened　its
  petals　to　the　cold　morning　air。　　Echo　bore　it　to　her　purple　cavern
  in　the　hills；　and　woke　the　sleeping　shepherds　from　their　dreams。
  It　floated　through　the　reeds　of　the　river；　and　they　carried　its
  message　to　the　sea。
  〃Look；　look！〃　cried　the　Tree；　〃the　rose　is　finished　now〃；　but　the
  Nightingale　made　no　answer；　for　she　was　lying　dead　in　the　long
  grass；　with　the　thorn　in　her　heart。
  And　at　noon　the　Student　opened　his　window　and　looked　out。
  〃Why；　what　a　wonderful　piece　of　luck！〃　he　cried；　〃here　is　a　red
  rose！　　I　have　never　seen　any　rose　like　it　in　all　my　life。　　It　is　so
  beautiful　that　I　am　sure　it　has　a　long　Latin　name〃；　and　he　leaned
  down　and　plucked　it。
  Then　he　put　on　his　hat；　and　ran　up　to　the　Professor's　house　with
  the　rose　in　his　hand。
  The　daughter　of　the　Professor　was　sitting　in　the　doorway　winding
  blue　silk　on　a　reel；　and　her　little　dog　was　lying　at　her　feet。
  〃You　said　that　you　would　dance　with　me　if　I　brought　you　a　red
  rose；〃　cried　the　Student。　　〃Here　is　the　reddest　rose　in　all　the
  world。　　You　will　wear　it　to…night　next　your　heart；　and　as　we　dance
  together　it　will　tell　you　how　I　love　you。〃
  But　the　girl　frowned。
  〃I　am　afraid　it　will　not　go　with　my　dress；〃　she　answered；　〃and；
  besides；　the　Chamberlain's　nephew　has　sent　me　some　real　jewels；　and
  everybody　knows　that　jewels　cost　far　more　than　flowers。〃
  〃Well；　upon　my　word；　you　are　very　ungrateful；〃　said　the　Student
  angrily；　and　he　threw　the　rose　into　the　street；　where　it　fell　into
  the　gutter；　and　a　cart…wheel　went　over　it。
  〃Ungrateful！〃　said　the　girl。　　〃I　tell　you　what；　you　are　very　rude；
  and；　after　all；　who　are　you？　　Only　a　Student。　　Why；　I　don't　believe
  you　have　even　got　silver　buckles　to　your　shoes　as　the　Chamberlain's
  nephew　has〃；　and　she　got　up　from　her　chair　and　went　into　the　house。
  〃What　I　a　silly　thing　Love　is；〃　said　the　Student　as　he　walked　away。
  〃It　is　not　half　as　useful　as　Logic；　for　it　does　not　prove　anything；
  and　it　is　always　telling　one　of　things　that　are　not　going　to
  happen；　and　making　one　believe　things　that　are　not　true。　　In　fact；
  it　is　quite　unpractical；　and；　as　in　this　age　to　be　practical　is
  everything；　I　shall　go　back　to　Philosophy　and　study　Metaphysics。〃
  So　he　returned　to　his　room　and　pulled　out　a　great　dusty　book；　and
  began　to　read。