busts, symbolically
indicating the higher nature within them. Wherefore, my daughter Anna,
no more of such words as 'ugly and abominable' applied to the noblest
of spirits, the grand Porphyrio von Ockerodastes, whose bride elect you
most indubitably are. I must just tell you, at the same time, that by
his important aid your father will soon attain that highest step of
bliss towards which he has so long been striving. Porphyrio von
Ockerodastes is in possession of authentic information that I am
beloved by the sylphide Nehabilah (which in Syriac has very much the
signification of our expression 'Peaky nose'), and he has promised to
assist me to the utmost of his power to render myself worthy of a union
with this higher spiritual nature. I have no doubt whatever, my dear
child, that you will be well satisfied with your future stepmother. All
I hope is, that a favourable destiny may so order matters that our
marriages may both take place at one and the same fortunate hour."

Having thus spoken, Herr Dapsul von Zabelthau, casting a significant
glance at his daughter, very pathetically left the room.

It was a great weight on Aennchen's heart that she remembered having, a
great while ago, really in some unaccountable way lost a little gold
ring, such as a child might wear, from her finger. So that it really
seemed too certain that this abominable little wizard of a creature had
indeed got her immeshed in his net, so that she couldn't see how she
was ever to get out of it. And over this she fell into the utmost grief
and bewilderment. She felt that her oppressed heart must obtain relief;
and this took place through the medium of a goose-quill, which she
seized, and at once wrote off to Herr Amandus von Nebelstern as
follows:

"MY DEAREST AMANDUS--

"All is over with me completely. I am the most unfortunate creature in
the whole world, and I'm sobbing and crying for sheer misery so
terribly that the dear dumb animals themselves are sorry for me. And
_you'll_ be still sorrier than they are, because it's just as great a
misfortune for you as it is for me, and you can't help being quite as
much distressed about it as I am myself. You know that we love one
another as fondly as any two lovers possibly can, and that I am
betrothed to you, and that papa was going with us to the church. Very
well. All of a sudden a nasty little creature comes here in a coach and
eight, with a lot of people and servants, and says I have changed rin