The Saturday following her return to the light of day, she went into town to make her weekly purchases of provisions and other necessaries, and, stepping into a shop in the Haut Pavé, was astonished to see one of her acquaintances of the Creux des Fâïes busily employed in filling a basket with the various commodities exposed for sale, but evidently unseen by all in the shop but herself. No longer at a loss to know whence the abundance in the fairies’ cavern proceeded, and, indignant at the roguery practised on the unsuspecting shopkeeper, she addressed the pilferer and said “Ah, wicked one! I see thee!” “You see me--do you?” answered the fairy. “And how--pray?” “With my eyes to be sure,” replied the woman, off her guard. “Well then,” replied he, “I will easily put a stop to any future prying into our affairs on your part.” And, saying this, he spat in her eyes, and she instantly became stone blind![101] [101] From Miss Lane, as related in the Castel parish. There is another version of the preceding, called THE FAIRIES AND THE MIDWIFE. Late one night an old woman was called up by a man with whom she was unacquainted, and requested to follow as quickly as possible, as his wife was in labour and required her immediate assistance. She obeyed, and was led by her guide into a miserable hovel, where everything appeared wretched, the few articles of furniture falling to pieces, and the household vessels of the coarsest ware, and scarcely one whole. Shortly after her arrival, her patient was safely delivered of a child. When she was about to make use of some water which stood in a pail, to wash the child with, and had already dipped her hand into it, she was earnestly requested not to meddle with that water, but to use some which stood in a jug close by. She chanced, however, to lift her hand, still wet, to her face, and a drop of the water got into one of her eyes. Immediately she saw everything under a different aspect; the house appeared rich and magnificently furnished, and the broken earthenware turned into vessels of gold and silver. She was, however, too prudent to express her surprise, and, when her services were no longer required, left the place. Some time afterwards she met the man in town and accosted him. “What,” said he, “You see me! How is this?” Taken unawares, she mentioned what she had done in the cottage, and which of her eyes was endowed with the faculty of beholding him: he immediately spat in it, and destroyed her sight for ever.[102] [102] From Miss E. Chepmell. See Sir Walter Scott’s _Lady of the Lake_. Note M:--Many of the German popular tales collected by the Brothers Grimm turn on the circumstance of a midwife being called to assist an Undine, or Fairy. See also Keightley’s _Fairy Mythology_, Vol. 2, p. 182. _Notes and Queries_, 2nd Series, IX. 259. Mrs. Bray’s _Traditions of Devonshire_.