f
those abodes of illusion and magic. Come to the light of the stars, and
act as children of the light.' I now feel that it was a great sin for me
to come down here, but I trust I shall be forgiven on account of my
youth, for I was only a boy, and knew not what I did. But now I will not
stay a day longer. They cannot keep _me_ here."

At these last words Elizabeth turned pale, for she recollected that she
was a servant, and must serve her fifty years.

"And what will it avail me," cried she, "that I shall continue young,
and be but as of twenty years when I go out, for my father and mother
will be dead, and all my companions old and grey; and you, dearest John,
will be old and grey also," cried she, throwing herself on his bosom.

John was thunderstruck at this, for it had never before occurred to him.
He, however, comforted her as well as he could, and declared he would
never leave the place without her. He spent the whole night in forming
various plans. At last he fixed on one, and in the morning he despatched
his servant to summon to his apartment six of the principal of the
little people. When they came, John thus mildly addressed them--

"My friends, you know how I came here, not as a prisoner or servant, but
as a lord and master over one of you, and of consequence over all. You
have now for the ten years I have been with you treated me with respect
and attention, and for that I am your debtor. But you are still more my
debtors, for I might have given you every sort of vexation and
annoyance, and you must have submitted to it. I have, however, not done
so, but have behaved as your equal, and have sported and played with you
rather than ruled over you. I have now one request to make. There is a
girl among your servants whom I love, Elizabeth Krabbe, of Rambin, where
I was born. Give her to me and let us depart, for I will return to where
the sun shines and the plough goes through the land. I ask to take
nothing with me but her and the ornaments and furniture of my chamber."

He spoke in a determined tone, and they hesitated and cast their eyes
upon the ground. At last the oldest of them replied--

"Sir, you ask what we cannot grant. It is a fixed law that no servant
can leave this place before the appointed time. Were we to break through
this law our whole subterranean empire would fall. Anything else you
desire, for we love and respect you, but we cannot give up Elizabeth."

"You can, and you shall, give her