by another, soft
and small, which gently slipped from his finger the gold ring he always
wore. And, lo! when he drew out his hand, the gold ring was gone.

Full of wonder at this mysterious event, the count mounted his horse and
returned to his castle, resolving in his mind that the very next day he
would have the Fairy Well emptied by his servants.

He retired to his room, and, throwing himself just as he was upon his
couch, tried to sleep; but the strangeness of the adventure kept him
restless and wakeful.

Suddenly he heard the hoarse baying of the watch-hounds in the
courtyard, and then the creaking of the drawbridge, as though it were
being lowered. Then came to his ear the patter of many small feet on
the stone staircase, and next he heard indistinctly the sound of light
footsteps in the chamber adjoining his own.

Count Otto sprang from his couch, and as he did so there sounded a
strain of delicious music, and the door of his chamber was flung open.
Hurrying into the next room, he found himself in the midst of numberless
Fairy beings, clad in gay and sparkling robes. They paid no heed to
him, but began to dance, and laugh, and sing, to the sound of mysterious
music.

In the center of the apartment stood a splendid Christmas Tree, the
first ever seen in that country. Instead of toys and candles there hung
on its lighted boughs diamond stars, pearl necklaces, bracelets of
gold ornamented with colored jewels, aigrettes of rubies and sapphires,
silken belts embroidered with Oriental pearls, and daggers mounted in
gold and studded with the rarest gems. The whole tree swayed, sparkled,
and glittered in the radiance of its many lights.

Count Otto stood speechless, gazing at all this wonder, when suddenly
the Fairies stopped dancing and fell back, to make room for a lady of
dazzling beauty who came slowly toward him.

She wore on her raven-black tresses a golden diadem set with jewels.
Her hair flowed down upon a robe of rosy satin and creamy velvet. She
stretched out two small, white hands to the count and addressed him in
sweet, alluring tones:--

"Dear Count Otto," said she, "I come to return your Christmas visit. I
am Ernestine, the Queen of the Fairies. I bring you something you lost
in the Fairy Well."

And as she spoke she drew from her bosom a golden casket, set with
diamonds, and placed it in his hands. He opened it eagerly and found
within his lost gold ring.

Carried away by the wonder of it all