Page:Hans Andersen's fairy tales (Robinson).djvu/156

 ELFIN-MOUNT. 'They travel economically; they come at the ship's convenience. I wanted them to pass over by Sweden, but the old man would not hear of that. He does not keep pace with the times, that's the only fault I can find with him.'

Just then two wills-o'-the-wisp were seen dancing up in a vast hurry, each trying to get before the other, and to be the first to bring the news.

'They come, they come!' cried both with one voice.

'Give me my crown, and let me stand in the moonlight!' said the Elfin-King.

And his seven daughters lifted their long scarfs and bowed low to the earth.

There stood the Trold Chief from the Dofrefield, wearing a crown composed of icicles and polished pine cones; for the rest, he was equipped in a bear-skin cloak and sledge-boots; his sons were clad more slightly, and kept their throats uncovered, by way of showing that they cared nothing about the cold.

'Is that a mount?' asked the youngest of them, pointing to it. 'Why, up in Norway we should call it a cave!'

'You foolish boy!' replied his father; 'a cave you go into, a mount you go up! Where are your eyes, not to see the difference?'

The only thing that surprised them in this country, they said, was that the people should speak and understand their language.

'Behave yourselves now!' said the old man; 'don't let your host fancy you never went into decent company before!'

And now they all entered the Elfin-mount, into the grand saloon, where a really very select party was assembled, although at such short notice that it seemed almost as though some fortunate gust of wind had blown them together. And every 125