nger be one of theirs;
he loves, and therefore he resigns his crown. All the passionate
entreatings of his mother and of the gnomes are of no avail. {122} At
the Queen's bidding he takes with him a magic book, without which he
should lose his power over the gnomes, and after giving to her beloved
son a set of luminous diamonds mother and son part, Heiling with joy in
his heart, the mother in tears and sorrow.

In the first act Heiling arises from the earth, for ever closing the
entrance to the gnomes.

Anna greets him joyously and Gertrud, her mother, heartily seconds the
welcome. Heiling gives to his bride a golden chain, and Anna adorning
herself, thinks with pleasure, how much she will be looked at and
envied by her companions. She fain would show herself at once and begs
Heiling to visit a public festival with her. But Heiling by nature
serious and almost taciturn, refuses her request. Anna pouts, but she
soon forgets her grief, when she sees the curious signs of erudition in
her lover's room. Looking over the magic book, the leaves begin to
turn by themselves, quicker and quicker, the strange signs seem to
grow, to threaten her, until stricken with horrible fear Anna cries
out, and Heiling, turning to her, sees too late what she has done.
Angry at her curiosity, he pushes her away, but she clings to him with
fervent entreaties to destroy the dreadful book. His love conquers his
reason; and he throws the last link which connects him with his past
into the fire. A deep thunder-peal is heard. Anna thanks him
heartily, but from this hour the seed of fear and distrust grows in her
heart.

{123}

Heiling, seeing her still uneasy, agrees to visit the festival with her
upon condition that she refrains from dancing. She gladly promises,
but as soon as they come to the festival, Anna is surrounded by the
village-lads, who entreat her to dance. They dislike the stranger, who
has won the fairest maiden of the village, and Conrad the hunter, who
has long loved Anna, is particularly hard on his rival. He mocks him,
feeling that Heiling is not what he seems, and tries to lure Anna away
from his side. At last Heiling grows angry, forbidding Anna once more
to dance. She is wounded by his words and telling him abruptly, that
she is not married yet and that she never will be his slave, she leaves
him.

In despair Heiling sees her go away with Conrad, dancing and frolicking.

In the second act we find Anna in th