y passed
through a crystal hall that led to a banquet-room. The room was
lighted by a single star, large as a battle-shield. It was fixed
against the wall above a diamond throne.

The queen seated herself upon the throne, and the pages, advancing
towards her, and bending low, as they approached the steps, handed
her a golden wand.

The queen waved the wand three times, and a table laden with all kinds
of delicacies appeared upon the floor. Then she beckoned Enda to her,
and when he stood beside her the fairy table was no higher than his
knee.

"I am afraid I must make you smaller, Enda," said the queen, "or you
will never be able to seat yourself at my fairy table."

And having said this, she touched Enda with the golden wand, and at
once he became as small as her tallest page. Then she struck the steps
of her throne, and all the nobles of her court, headed by her bards,
took their places at the festive board.

The feast went on right merrily, and when the tiny jewelled
drinking-cups were placed upon the table, the queen ordered the
harpers to play.

And the little harpers struck the chords, and as Enda listened to the
music it seemed to him as if he was being slowly lifted from his seat,
and when the music ended the fairies vanished, the shining star went
out, and Enda was in perfect darkness.

The air blew keenly in his face, and he knew not where he was. At last
he saw a faint grey light, and soon this light grew broader and
brighter, and as the shadows fled before it, he could hardly believe
his eyes when he found himself in his curragh on the lake, and the
moonlight streaming down from the mountain-tops.

For a moment he thought he must have been dreaming; but there in the
boat before him were the crystal helmet, and the water-dress, and the
gleaming spear, and the golden bowl of perfumed water that was to
remove the spell of enchantment from the white swan of the lake, and
sailing towards him from the sedgy bank came the snow-white swan; and
when she touched the boat, Enda put out his hands and lifted her in,
and then over her plumage he poured the perfumed water from the golden
bowl, and the Princess Mave in all her maiden beauty stood before
him.

"Take your oar, Enda," she said, "and row to the southern bank."

Enda seized his oar, and the curragh sped across the waters swifter
than a swallow in its flight. When the boat touched the shore Enda
jumped out, and lifted the princess on to the bank.