Here the narrator's voice failed him. After an instant of deep emotion, during which the three listeners maintained a respectful silence, he continued: "You may already have surmised it. My tender bride--the brightest, most glowing of all--she had disappeared; kidnapped by cruel human beings. The still, dewy grass-plot was trampled, and her favorite place by the ditch was dark and deserted. I was alone in the world." Here the impressionable rabbit once again pulled down an ear, and wiped a tear from his eye. "Since that time I have been a different creature. I have an aversion for all idle pleasures. I think only of her whom I have lost, and of the time when I shall see her again." "Really! Do you still hope to?" said the rabbit, rejoiced. "I more than hope--I am certain. In heaven I shall see my beloved again." "But--" the rabbit objected. "Bunnie," said the glow-worm, gravely, "I can understand that one who was obliged to grope about in the dark might doubt, but when one can see, with his own eyes! That puzzles me. There!" said the glow-worm, gazing reverently up at the star-dotted skies; "there I behold them--all my forefathers, all my friends, and her, too, more gloriously radiant than when here upon earth. Ah, when shall I be able to rise up out of this lower life, and fly to her who beckons me so winsomely? When, ah, when?" With a sigh, the glow-worm turned away from his listeners and crept back again into the dark passage. "Poor creature!" said the rabbit. "I hope he is right." "I hope so too," added Johannes. "I have my doubts," said Windekind, "but it was very touching." "Dear Windekind," began Johannes, "I am very tired and sleepy." "Then come close to me, and I will cover you with my mantle." Windekind took off his little blue mantle and spread it over Johannes and himself. So they lay down on the gentle slope, in the fragrant moss, with their arms about each other's neck. "Your heads lie rather low," said the rabbit. "Will you rest them against me?" They did so. "Good-night, Mother!" said Windekind to the moon. Then Johannes shut the little gold key tight in his hand, pressed his head against the downy coat of the good rabbit, and fell fast asleep. [1] Windekind = Child of the _Winde_ or Windflower. [2] In Dutch, the word sun is feminine. III Where is he, Presto?--Where is he? What a fright to wake up in the boat, among the reeds, all alone, the master gone and not a trace of him! It is something to be alarmed about. And how long you have been running, barking nervously, trying to find him, poor Presto! How could you sleep so soundly and not notice the little master get out of the boat? Otherwise, you would have wakened as soon as he made the least move. You could scarcely find the place where he landed, and here in the downs you are all confused. That nervous sniffing has not helped a bit. Oh, despair! The master gone--not a sign of him. Find him, Presto, find him!