af of lady's-smock, a
mussel-shell, and two fish-bones. There were a few drops of water
glittering on the leaf, which the girl threw on the grass. Immediately
the grass, the garden, and everything else vanished, as if they had sunk
in the ground, and water spread around to the horizon in every
direction. Only a small patch remained dry under the feet of the
children. Then the young lady set the shell in the water, and took the
fish-bones in her hand. The shell began to expand, until it became a
pretty boat, in which a dozen children or more could easily have found
room. The two seated themselves in it, Elsie not without hesitation, but
her companion only laughed, and the fish-bones turned to oars in her
hands. The children were rocked by the waves as if they were in a
cradle, and presently other boats came in sight, and the people in them
were laughing and singing. "We should sing back to them," said the young
lady; but Elsie did not know how to sing; so she herself began to sing
very sweetly. Elsie could not understand much of what the others sang,
but she heard the word Kiisike[138] repeated several times, and asked
what it meant, and her companion answered, "That is my name." They
floated thus together for a long time, till they heard a voice crying,
"Come home, children, for it is nearly evening." Kiisike took the box
out of her pocket, and dipped the leaf in the water, so that a few drops
lay upon it. Instantly they found themselves in the garden near the
beautiful house: everything looked as firm and solid as before, and no
water was to be seen anywhere. The shell and fish-bones were put back
into the box with the leaf, and the children went home.

Here they saw four-and-twenty ladies sitting round a dinner-table, all
splendidly dressed as if for a wedding. The lady of the house sat at the
head of the table in a golden chair.

Elsie's eyes did not know how to admire sufficiently all the splendour
which surrounded her. Thirteen gold and silver dishes stood upon the
table, but one of these was taken up and carried away without the cover
having been removed. Elsie ate of the dainty dishes, which were nicer
than cakes, and again she thought she must be in heaven, for she could
not imagine anything like this on earth.

During dinner, conversation was carried on in low tones, but in a
foreign language of which Elsie did not understand a word.[139] At
length the lady spoke to a maid who stood behind her chair. The latt