ork. Elsie learned
everything easily, but Kiisike had more taste for childish games than
for her lessons. When the whim took her, she threw her work away, caught
up her little box, and ran out of doors to play on the lake, and nobody
scolded her. Sometimes she said to Elsie, "It's a pity you've grown so
big: you can't play with me any longer."

Nine years passed in this way, and one evening the lady sent for Elsie
to come to her room. This surprised Elsie, for the lady had never sent
for her before; and her heart beat almost to bursting. When Elsie
entered, she saw that the lady's cheeks were red, and her eyes were
filled with tears, which she hastily wiped away as if to hide them. "My
dear child," said the lady, "the time has come when we must part."
"Part!" exclaimed Elsie, throwing herself at the lady's feet. "No, dear
lady, we must never part till death shall separate us. I have always
behaved well; don't drive me from you." But the lady said soothingly,
"Calm yourself, child. You do not yet know how much it will increase
your happiness. You are now grown up, and I must not keep you here any
longer in confinement. You must go back among mankind, where happiness
awaits you." Elsie still besought her, "Dear lady, don't send me away; I
wish for no other happiness than to live and die with you. Let me be
your chambermaid, or give me any other work to do that you like, only
don't send me out into the wide world again. It would have been better
for you to have left me with my stepmother in the village than for me to
have spent so many years in heaven only to be thrust out again into
hell." "Be still, dear child," said the lady. "You cannot understand
what it is my duty to do for your good, hard as it is for me also. But
everything must be done as I direct. You are a child of mortal man,[144]
and your years must come at length to an end, and therefore you cannot
remain here any longer. I myself and those around me possess human
forms, but we are not human beings like you, but beings of a higher
order, whom you cannot comprehend. You will find a beloved husband far
away from here, who is destined for you, and you will live happily with
him, until your days draw to a close. It is not easy for me to part with
you, but so it must be, and therefore you must also submit quietly."
Then she passed her golden comb through Elsie's hair and told her to go
to bed. But how should poor Elsie sleep this unhappy night? Her life
seemed lik