“River king’s daughter, Here thou hast brought her, From the cool water; She smiles on thee, dear. Throw but a kiss to me, It will be bliss to me, If you do this to me, A maid I’ll appear.” On hearing this, Duldy kissed his hand towards the tall white column of foam, whereupon it vanished, and in its place stood a slender, beautiful woman in an azure robe girdled with white water-lilies, the same flowers also being entwined in her golden hair, which fell in great waves down to the ground. On seeing this beautiful faery with the profusion of golden tresses, Duldy could only stare, whereupon she came forward with a smile and took his hand. Her touch was bitterly cold, and he shivered in the chilly atmosphere which she seemed to spread around her. [Illustration] “Are you Foamina?” asked Duldy cautiously. “Yes, I am the Spirit of the River,” she replied, nodding her golden head. “Why do you wish to see me?” “Because I want to leave the forest,” said Duldy quickly. “I know you do,” cried Foamina, with a laugh which sounded like the ripple of water; “but you’ll never do so; I’ll foam round you like a brook, and you’ll never be able to jump across.” “But why will you do so?” asked the shepherd. “Because I love you—I love you!” she murmured, bending towards him; “and I won’t let you go to the Princess.” “But I want to waken the Princess with a kiss.” “I know you do,” said Foamina again; “but you’ll never kiss her—even if you did it would be no good. I plunged her into that magic sleep by my enchantments, and she’ll never awaken until you promise to marry me.” “Oh, I’ll never do that!” exclaimed Duldy. “Very well; then she’ll sleep on for ever,” said the Water-witch, laughing cruelly, while the air round her grew bitterly cold, and the yellow locks of her hair and the blue folds of her robe seemed to undulate over her lovely form like waves of water. “Then, as you won’t let me leave the forest, I suppose I must stay here,” said Duldy in despair. “Yes, unless you promise to marry me,” replied Foamina tenderly. “In that case I’ll remain here for ever,” cried Duldy angrily; “and as it’s so cold, I’ll light a fire.” “No, don’t do that,” said the Water-witch, shivering; “I don’t like fire,—a cruel, hot thing which burns me up.” “I don’t care,” retorted Duldy, beginning to collect sticks for his fire; “I’m not going to perish with cold for your sake, especially when I don’t love you.” “I’ll put your fire out,” cried Foamina in a rage. “Oh no, you won’t,” replied Duldy coolly; “I won’t let you. Besides, I can talk to you much more comfortably when I’m warm.”