The End
suddenly she saw her brothers and sister honored guests at what was unmistakably a very grand and happy festival, and found herself in the place of honor on the very lap of the Queen, she only snuggled closer to that royal lady and called out very loud and clear, "Hullo, Mavis! Here's a jolly transformation scene. That was a magic drink she gave us and it's made everybody jolly and friends—I am glad. You dear Queen," she added, "it is nice of you to nurse me."
So everybody was pleased: only Princess Freia looked sad and puzzled and her eyes followed Ulfin as he bowed and made to retire from the royal presence. He had almost reached the door when she spoke quickly in the royal ear that was next to her.
"Oh, Father," she said, "don't let him go like that. He ought to be at the banquet. We couldn't have done anything without him."
"True," said the King, "but I thought he had been invited, and refused."
"Refused?" said the Princess, "oh, call him back!"
"I'll run if I may," said Mavis, slipping out of her place and running down the great hall.
"If you'll sit a little nearer to me, Father," said Maia obligingly, "the young man can sit between you and my sister."
So that is where Ulfin found himself, and that was where he had never dared to hope to be.
The banquet was a strange as well as a magnificent scene—because, of course, the Mer-people were beautiful as the day, the five children were quite as pretty as any five children have any need to be, and the King and Queen of the Under Folk were as handsome as handsome. So that all this handsomeness was a very curious contrast to the strange heavy features of the Under Folk who now sat at table, so pleasant and friendly, toasting their late enemies.
The contrast between the Princess Freia and Ulfin was partic-
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