A burst of gay laughter ended the song, a great veil of white spray was flung over Duldy as he sat on the bank, and the stream resumed its inarticulate babbling. Duldy went home dreaming of the lovely face he had seen, but, feeling something cold clasping his wrist, he looked down and saw for a moment that it was encircled by a wreath of foam. The white bubbles vanished, but he still felt the cold clasp, and knew, though he could not see it, that the water bracelet was still on his wrist. As he stood perplexed at this wonder, the murmur of the waterfall sounding like soft thunder through the green woods shaped itself once more into words: “’Tis I whom thou hearest. I stole thee, my dearest. I loved thee and kissed when thou wast a child. I love thee for ever, No Fate can us sever: The foam-ring will bind thee to me undefiled.” And that is how Duldy knew he was loved by the Water-witch. He came again to the side of the stream and heard Foamina sing the same song, and when he was going home, he once more heard her voice murmuring through the woods. This time he felt rather angry, because he did not want to be bound to the water-faery, as he was in love with the Princess Elsa. However, being a very polite youth, he said nothing, but went home laughing. Next time he heard her singing, he could not help telling her the truth, and cried out,— “I do not love you, but the Princess Elsa.” Instantly the still waters of the pool foamed furiously and arose up like a great fountain, in the centre of which he saw the water-faery looking angrily at him. Terrified at the sight, he hastened away, and did not go to the stream again, but on his wrist he still felt the clasp of the foam-ring, which nothing, not even hot water, could wash away. Shortly afterwards, a rumour crept through the kingdom that the Princess Elsa had fallen into a deep sleep, out of which no one could rouse her, and the King made a proclamation that whosoever should succeed in waking her would receive her hand in marriage, and be king after him. When Duldy heard this, he was anxious to go to the city and try to wake the beautiful Princess, but Dull and Day tried to make him give up the idea. “You don’t know how to wake her,” said Dull; “it must be a magic sleep into which the Princess has fallen.” “And no one can wake a princess out of a magic sleep except a faery,” observed Day sagaciously. “At any rate I’ll try,” replied Duldy resolutely, “I have heard that a princess who slept for a hundred years was awakened by a kiss—perhaps if I kiss the Princess Elsa, she also will awake.” “I don’t think so,” said Dull, shaking his head. “And the King would never let a poor shepherd kiss the Princess, I’m certain,” said Day wisely.