The Magic Pool. 61

 

perhaps suffer death himself. She climbed the mountain to
get farther away, her only thought being flight. At last she
reached a pool of clear water, high on the mountain-side, where
his highness Rapp was taking tea, and she stooped to bathe
her face. No sooner had the crystal drops sprinkled her fore-
head than she sank down on a bed of grass fast asleep. Then
the ferns spread their delicate sprays over her, and screened
her from sight. She never knew how long her nap might have
been had not Rapp’s gruff voice aroused her to peep through
the foliage at the tea-party in the grotto.

“The little people were interested in the girl’s misfortunes.
Rapp pretended not to notice, and caught flies, but he really
meant to assist her.

“Go down to my winter palace,’ he said to a favorite