ition that they looked like a dwarf forest, and seemed appropriate
growing there.

"Your name is 'Norah'," said Karl boldly, "but that is all I know about
you!"

"I am no fairy princess, alas," said Norah, "but only a poor landlord's
daughter. My father and I have the new hotel in Elm!"

"O you must be the pretty innkeeper's daughter then of whom I have heard
so much," said Karl. "Now isn't it funny, I had meant to stay the night
at your hotel on the chance of seeing you, and now we meet under the
earth in dwarfland--romantic I call that! Why do you work for those
little beggars?" he continued.

"For the same reason that you have proposed doing so," she answered, "to
earn money. I was picking bilberries on the mountains and strayed into
their land by chance one day. I found them busy at work spring cleaning,
and helped them a bit, and that was my first introduction to the dwarfs.
They pay me well for little work, and starting an hotel costs a great
deal of money you must know. I am glad to be able to help my father."

"You do not come from this part of Germany, you speak quite differently
to us," said the young man inquiringly.

"My home is over the seas," said Norah. "My father is an Irishman; but
we found it hard to get on there, and meant to emigrate to America. Then
father changed his mind, and we came to Germany. My mother died some
years ago," she said sadly.

"Poor child," said Karl in a deep, sympathetic voice, "there must be a
good deal of responsibility on your young shoulders."

"I should just think so," said Norah with a sigh, "but our hotel is
going to be a tremendous success!" As she spoke, she led the way
through a little narrow path, that crossed a heath where heather grew,
and great masses of yellow starred ragwort. "Ah! me beloved golden
flower," she cried, pointing the plant out to Karl, who had passed it by
a thousand times as a common weed, but to whom it seemed from this day
forth to be alive and full of meaning. "We call it fairy-horses in
Ireland," she said, with a rapt look on her face, "sure and I can see my
native mountains when I pluck it"--and her eyes filled with tears.

She wanted no consoling however, her mood changed quickly enough. "Do
come here," she called out to Karl, "and see what I've found now!" She
showed him a clump of pure white heather; "it is tremendously lucky,"
she said, "and you shall have a bit too." So saying she stuck a piece of
white heather in his buttonhole