THE LOST CHILD 71

When the young stranger had taken leave of all his friends
he returned by the paths he had come, and the girl followed
without being seen. Arrived at the foot of the precipice, he
began to ascend, she coming silently after, holding on to his
mantle. Up they went higher and higher, until they reached
the room in the castle. The floor closed up without trace of
the opening. The girl returned to her place by the fire, where
she was standing when the young man approached.

“All my farewells have been spoken,” said he, “now we
can have supper.”

She hastened to place upon the table the food so hurriedly
prepared, and sitting side by side they supped together. When
they had made a good meal he said, “ Now it is time to rest.”

He lay down on the carefully-made bed, and the girl
placed by his side the gold and silver branches she had
picked in the Mineral Land. In a few moments he was
sleeping peacefully.

Next day the sun was already high in the sky, and yet the
girl had not come to give an account of herself. The noble-
man became impatient ; he waited and waited, becoming more
and more uneasy. At last he determined to go and see for
himself what had happened. Picture to yourself his surprise
and joy, when on entering the haunted chamber he saw his
long-lost son sleeping on the bed, while beside him sat the
widow’s beautiful daughter. At that moment the son awoke.
The father, overwhelmed with joy, summoned the attendants
of the castle to rejoice with him in his new-found happiness.

Then the young man saw the two branches of metal, and
said with astonishment, “‘What doI see? Did you then follow
me down there? Know that by this act you have broken