oring maidens, might expect to win.

Like a captive bird which, after many fruitless struggles, finally
regains its liberty, Nanna quickly made use of her restored freedom, and
hastened from the door-yard. She was fully convinced that the young man
was no longer in the meadow, and now she suddenly remembered that she
had said nothing to her father or Magde about the stranger whom she had
encountered the previous evening. How strange it was that she had
forgotten to tell them! Yes, it was the strangest thing that ever had
occurred during her whole life, and how greatly astonished they would be
when she should tell them of her little adventure! Thus thought Nanna,
as she proceeded towards the meadow.

CHAPTER VI

THE AGREEMENT.

"It was just as I thought!" exclaimed our heroine, as she looked, with
pouting lips at the reflection of her pretty figure in the clear waters
of the spring. Never before had her hair been so nicely arranged, and
her neat white apron, which she had kept concealed beneath her cloak
during her entire conversation with Magde and her father, and which she
had carefully tied about her waist as soon as she had entered the
meadows, how pretty it looked! But how was she repaid for all her
trouble? She was about disencumbering herself both of her apron and a
little scarf which she had thrown over her shoulders, when she heard a
voice that she had already learned to distinguish, calling to her in the
distance.

With pleased astonishment she lifted her eyes, and saw an individual
whom we need scarcely inform our readers was the owner of the knapsack.
He was descending a hill, holding to his lips a blade of grass, upon
which he would occasionally blow a vigorous and ear-piercing blast.

"Have you come at last, my naiad queen?" said the youth. "We were such
pleasant companions last evening, that I came hither in the hope of
finding you at your bath again."

"A naiad queen might bathe her feet before you; but I--" She ceased
speaking, and a deep blush suffused her cheeks.

"Ah! then you know something about the naiads, my child?"

"Yes, and about the sylphs, too," replied Nanna, nodding her head, proud
at having an opportunity of displaying her knowledge before one whom,
besides her father, was the only person that she had ever cared to
interest.

"You surprise me! What have you read?"

"O, a little of everything. My father has a large book case, and I have
a small collection of books, mys