FINDING himself at home, Kelch jumped to his feet with a cry, for at the end of the room he saw the golden statue of Filina standing in the sunlight, with outstretched arms, as if she were imploring him to release her from the enchantment. Kelch hurried forward and saw the magic ring was still on her finger, but it looked too firmly fixed to pull off, and although he tried, he could not get it away. The only thing to be done was to bring Hocky to the cottage and let him try, and as the Goblin had fulfilled his promise of placing both Kelch and the statue at home, the youth had no doubt that everything else would soon come all right. He hurried out into the open air, and found all the villagers returning from the fields for their noonday meal. They scowled at Kelch as he passed, and asked how a wicked magician like him dared to return to the village from whence he had been driven. Kelch, however, never minded their anger, but ran to the village green, where he found Hocky talking to Filina’s father. “Here’s that wicked magician!” cried Hocky when he saw Kelch, for he hated the youth almost as much as the villagers hated himself. “Drive him away.” “He robbed me of my daughter,” said Filina’s father, lifting up his staff, as the men and women of the village broke into murmurs of anger. “I have come back to restore her,” said Kelch boldly; “and if you come with me to my cottage, you will find her there.” On hearing this, Filina’s father, followed by Hocky and all the villagers, hastened to the cottage, and there they saw the golden statue. “It is my daughter sure enough!” cried Filina’s father, with tears in his eyes; “but she is changed into gold.” “Would you rather have your daughter living, or her golden statue?” asked Kelch, looking at the old man. “Say the golden statue,” whispered Hocky, pulling the father’s sleeve. “No, no!” cried Filina’s father, shaking his head; “no gold would recompense me for the loss of my daughter.” “But your daughter is going to marry me,” said Hocky. “Yes, that is true,” replied the old man. “Then I would rather have her as a golden statue,” shrieked Hocky avariciously, approaching Kelch. “You hear what he says!” cried Kelch: “I love Filina for herself, Hocky loves her because she is turned to gold, and would rather see the father unhappy than let her be alive again.” “She’s mine,” said Hocky rudely, getting in front of the golden statue; “I have her father’s word, and all this gold is my own.” “What will you do with her?” asked Filina’s father tremulously. “Melt her down into broad gold pieces,” roared Hocky, dancing; “into the furnace she shall go.” “What! melt my daughter!” said the old man in a wrathful tone. “Never! You shall not have her—sooner than that I’ll give her to Kelch.” “Keep your promise, and I’ll change her into a living woman once more,” cried Kelch eagerly. “I love your daughter for her own sake.”