"Feet off the table-cloth!" said the old goblin. They obeyed,

but not immediately. Then they tickled the ladies who waited at table,

with the fir-cones, which they carried in their pockets. They took off

their boots, that they might be more at ease, and gave them to the

ladies to hold. But their father, the old goblin, was very

different; he talked pleasantly about the stately Norwegian rocks, and

told fine tales of the waterfalls which dashed over them with a

clattering noise like thunder or the sound of an organ, spreading

their white foam on every side. He told of the salmon that leaps in

the rushing waters, while the water-god plays on his golden harp. He

spoke of the bright winter nights, when the sledge bells are

ringing, and the boys run with burning torches across the smooth

ice, which is so transparent that they can see the fishes dart forward

beneath their feet. He described everything so clearly, that those who

listened could see it all; they could see the saw-mills going, the

men-servants and the maidens singing songs, and dancing a rattling

dance,- when all at once the old goblin gave the old elfin maiden a

kiss, such a tremendous kiss, and yet they were almost strangers to

each other.

Then the elfin girls had to dance, first in the usual way, and

then with stamping feet, which they performed very well; then followed

the artistic and solo dance. Dear me, how they did throw their legs

about! No one could tell where the dance begun, or where it ended, nor

indeed which were legs and which were arms, for they were all flying

about together, like the shavings in a saw-pit! And then they spun

round so quickly that the death-horse and the grave-pig became sick

and giddy, and were obliged to leave the table.