"Probably a peasant from Altenhain," she thought, and was pleased to think of meeting a friend. But the footsteps sounded strange and light, more like the pattering of raindrops through leaves, and then for a moment, she turned giddy; it seemed to her as if the trees were really rushing past her, as they seem to do when we look at them out of a railway carriage. One of the young oak trees seemed to be running towards her down the path; but as she looked more closely, and her head became steadier, she saw that it was a boy a little older than herself, who came running towards her, and very queer he looked. He had a great mass of brown curly hair tumbling about his head; green ears--it seemed to her, _could_ it be possible? No, it must be that he had stuck oak leaves into his curly locks for ornament, pretty oak leaves tinged with soft red. Moreover he had the bluest and strangest eyes she had ever seen. They shone like wonderful jewels at one moment, and then turned dull and opaque and looked almost dead. He had on rough green trousers, and a white shirt with yellow embroidered braces; his feet were bare and very brown. When he saw Kaethe, he gave a wild kind of Indian whoop, and danced round and round her, much to the poor child's dismay, his eyes flashing all sorts of colours. Her heart beat fast, but not a word or sound would come out of her mouth. The boy then made a deep bow, and took her by the hand. Soon he had his long arms round her waist and was trying to kiss her. Kaethe began to cry with fear and indignation, "You rude, naughty boy," she said, "I will tell my mother of you." The imp seemed much surprised, caught one of her tears on his finger, held it up to the light and then sucked it, making funny faces all the time. Kaethe could not help laughing, and then she dried her tears with a corner of her apron. She sat down on a tree-trunk for a moment and tried to think. Immediately the boy sat by her, and begged her to give him a kiss. He looked quite nice and pretty for the moment, and Kaethe thought she had better do as he wished, or he might begin his antics again. So she gave him a motherly kiss, just as she would give to her baby brother, smack! on the cheek. Immediately the queer look went out of his eyes, and a more human expression took its place. "Kaethe," he said, "Kaethe, I am but a lonely little imp of the forest, but I love you, Kaethe, and I want you to marry me, and live with me always, and be my own little wife. Will you, O will you? O _do, do_, do," he said, dancing up and down in wild excitement. "O goodness gracious me, you are certainly quite crazy," said Kaethe, "I will tell my mother of you!" She began to cry again, and smacked him whenever he tried to come near her. Then he seized her by the hand and dragged her after him into the wild woods, till they were lost in the forest. "O dear, O dear, whatever _shall_ I do? what will mother say when she finds no Kaethe, no supper, and no baby. Boo-o-o-o!"