Then the sound of a bell fell gently on her ear. She had been so absorbed in her dreams that she started in alarm at the unexpected sound, and it was a moment or two before she could collect her thoughts to think. Then she remembered her request, of which this was evidently the fulfilment, so she struck softly against the inside of the bell as a sign that she had heard her friend's greeting. Then the edge of her prison was gently lifted, and with a cry of joy she slipped out into the water. There stood the little water-sprite. "Will you go up with me to the surface of the stream?" asked she. "Would you like to float up and down on my lily-raft?" "Indeed I should," answered the little soul. "What do I want but freedom, air, and light? Oh yes, take me with you!" The lovely nymph took the child's hand, and a little shining wave bore them upwards as on the wings of a swan. Now they are standing on the surface of the water. The little water-sprite beckoned, and from far and near swam the water-lilies and anemones to make a boat of flowers for their young mistress and her dear little pale companion. They glided down the stream. Oh, how beautiful it was! [Illustration: THE WATER-ELF AND THE LITTLE SOUL ON THE RAFT OF WATER-LILIES.] On they moved past lofty mountains crowned by stately castles--past villages lying in peaceful slumber, whose churches mirrored their graceful spires in the clear flood below--past the willows on the banks, that nodded their drowsy heads as the night-wind played through their branches. And over all these lovely scenes the moon shed her magic light, and the waves sang softly their everlasting song. Then the little water-elf took her golden harp, and sent her clear voice floating through the stillness of the night. She sang of what was stirring her own heart and filling the child's soul with sorrow--of their longing for happiness on earth or in heaven, which was so far, so far from them both. The sweet sounds floated through the silent night, till the waves checked their song, and the slumbering trees awoke to listen to the enthralling strains. "Oh!" said the child's soul at length, "why cannot I rise into the kingdom of light? why must I linger far away from my heavenly home, and pine down below in that dark dungeon?" "Because," answered the lovely water-elf kindly, "my father has sentenced you to the bell, and this spell holds you bound, and always forces you to return to darkness and captivity." "Can this sentence, this spell never be broken?" asked the little soul. "Yes, if a human being descends and overthrows the bell the charm will be broken, and you may rise to heaven." "Ah! would that that time would come!" said the little one sorrowfully. "The only ones whose love would be strong enough to make them take the risk are far away." And she looked sadly into the distance.