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lurk about。 They expectfriends in the elfin hill； grand pany； too； but who they are theearth…worm would not say； or； perhaps； he really did not know。 All thewill…o'…the…wisps are ordered to be there to hold a torch dance； as itis called。 The silver and gold which is plentiful in the hill willbe polished and placed out in the moonlight。〃
〃Who can the strangers be？〃 asked the lizards； 〃what can thematter be？ Hark； what a buzzing and humming there is！〃
Just at this moment the elfin hill opened； and an old elfinmaiden； hollow behind； came tripping out； she was the old elf king'shousekeeper； and a distant relative of the family； therefore shewore an amber heart on the middle of her forehead。 Her feet moved veryfast； 〃trip； trip；〃 good gracious； how she could trip right down tothe sea to the night…raven。
〃You are invited to the elf hill for this evening；〃 said she； 〃butwill you do me a great favor and undertake the invitations？ youought to do something； for you have no housekeeping to attend to asI have。 We are going to have some very grand people； conjurors； whohave always something to say； and therefore the old elf king wishes tomake a great display。〃
〃Who is to be invited？〃 asked the raven。
〃All the world may e to the great ball； even human beings； ifthey can only talk in their sleep； or do something after ourfashion。 But for the feast the pany must be carefully selected；we can only admit persons of high rank； I have had a dispute myselfwith the elf king； as he thought we could not admit ghosts。 The mermanand his daughter must be invited first； although it may not beagreeable to them to remain so long on dry land； but they shall have awet stone to sit on； or perhaps something better； so I think they willnot refuse this time。 We must have all the old demons of the firstclass； with tails； and the hobgoblins and imps； and then I think weought not to leave out the death…horse； or the grave…pig； or eventhe church dwarf； although they do belong to the clergy； and are notreckoned among our people； but that is merely their office； they arenearly related to us； and visit us very frequently。〃
〃Croak；〃 said the night…raven as he flew away with theinvitations。
The elfin maidens we're already dancing on the elf hill； andthey danced in shawls woven from moonshine and mist； which look verypretty to those who like such things。 The large hall within the elfhill was splendidly decorated； the floor had been washed withmoonshine； and the walls had been rubbed with magic ointment； sothat they glowed like tulip…leaves in the light。 In the kitchen werefrogs roasting on the spit； and dishes preparing of snail skins；with children's fingers in them； salad of mushroom seed； hemlock；noses and marrow of mice； beer from the marsh woman's brewery； andsparkling salt…petre wine from the grave cellars。 These were allsubstantial food。 Rusty nails and church…window glass formed thedessert。 The old elf king had his gold crown polished up with powderedslate…pencil； it was like that used by the first form； and verydifficult for an elf king to obtain。 In the bedrooms； curtains werehung up and fastened with the slime of snails； there was； indeed； abuzzing and humming everywhere。
〃Now we must fumigate the place with burnt horse…hair and pig'sbristles； and then I think I shall have done my part；〃 said the elfman…servant。
〃Father； dear；〃 said the youngest daughter； 〃may I now hear whoour high…born visitors are？〃
〃Well； I suppose I must tell you now；〃 he replied； 〃two of mydaughters must prepare themselves to be married； for the marriagescertainly will take place。 The old goblin from Norway； who lives inthe ancient Dovre mountains； and who possesses many castles built ofrock and freestone； besides a gold mine； which is better than all；so it is thought； is ing with his two sons； who are both seekinga wife。 The old goblin is a true…hearted； honest； old Norwegiangraybeard； cheerful and straightforward。 I knew him formerly； whenwe used to drink together to our good fellowship： he came here once tofetch his wife； she is dead now。 She was the daughter of the king ofthe chalk…hills at Moen。 They say he took his wife from chalk； I shallbe delighted to see him again。 It is said that the boys areill…bred； forward lads； but perhaps that is not quite correct； andthey will bee better as they grow older。 Let me see that you knowhow to teach them good manners。〃
〃And when are they ing？〃 asked the daughter。
〃That depends upon wind and weather；〃 said the elf king； 〃theytravel economically。 They will e when there is the chance of aship。 I wanted them to e over to Sweden； but the old man was notinclined to take my advice。 He does not go forward with the times； andthat I do not like。〃
Two will…o'…the…wisps came jumping in； one quicker than the other；so of course； one arrived first。 〃They are ing！ they are ing！〃he cried。
〃Give me my crown；〃 said the elf king； 〃and let me stand in themoonshine。〃
The daughters drew on their shawls and bowed down to the ground。There stood the old goblin from the Dovre mountains； with his crown ofhardened ice and polished fir…cones。 Besides this； he wore abear…skin； and great； warm boots； while his sons went with theirthroats bare and wore no braces； for they were strong men。
〃Is that a hill？〃 said the youngest of the boys； pointing to theelf hill； 〃we should call it a hole in Norway。〃
〃Boys；〃 said the old man； 〃a hole goes in； and a hill standsout； have you no eyes in your heads？〃
Another thing they wondered at was； that they were able withouttrouble to understand the language。
〃Take care；〃 said the old man； 〃or people will think you havenot been well brought up。〃
Then they entered the elfin hill； where the select and grandpany were assembled； and so quickly had they appeared that theyseemed to have been blown together。 But for each guest the neatest andpleasantest arrangement had been made。 The sea folks sat at table ingreat water…tubs； and they said it was just like being at home。 Allbehaved themselves properly excepting the two young northern goblins；they put their legs on the table and thought they were all right。
〃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 offtheir boots； that they might be more at ease； and gave them to theladies to hold。 But their father； the old goblin； was verydifferent； he talked pleasantly about the stately Norwegian rocks； andtold fine tales of the waterfalls which dashed over them with aclattering noise like thunder or the sound of an organ； spreadingtheir white foam on every side。 He told of the salmon that leaps inthe rushing waters； while the water…god plays on his golden harp。 Hespoke of the bright winter nights； when the sledge bells areringing； and the boys run with burning torches across the smoothice； which is so transparent that they can see the fishes dart forwardbeneath their feet。 He described everything so clearly； that those wholistened could see it all； they could see the saw…mills going； themen…servants and the maidens singing songs； and dancing a rattlingdance；… when all at once the old goblin gave the old elfin maiden akiss； such a tremendous kiss； and yet they were almost strangers toeach other。
Then the elfin girls had to dance； first in the usual way； andthen with stamping feet； which they performed very well； then followedthe artistic and solo dance。 Dear me； how they did throw their legsabout！ No one could tell where the dance begun； or where it ended； norindeed which were legs and which were arms； for they were all flyingabout together； like the shavings in a saw…pit！ And then they spunround so quickly that the death…horse and the grave…pig became sickand giddy； and were obliged to leave the table。
〃Stop！〃 cried the old goblin；〃 is that the only house…keeping theycan perform？ Can they do anything more than dance and throw abouttheir legs； and make a whirlwind？〃
〃You shall soon see what they can do；〃 said the elf king。 And thenhe called his youngest daughter to him。 She was slender and fair asmoonlight； and the most graceful of all the sisters。 She took awhite chip in her mouth； and vanished instant