On hearing this, Duldy kissed his hand towards the tall white column of foam, whereupon it vanished, and in its place stood a slender, beautiful woman in an azure robe girdled with white water-lilies, the same flowers also being entwined in her golden hair, which fell in great waves down to the ground.
On seeing this beautiful faery with the profusion of golden tresses, Duldy could only stare, whereupon she came forward with a smile and took his hand. Her touch was bitterly cold, and he shivered in the chilly atmosphere which she seemed to spread around her.
“Are you Foamina?” asked Duldy cautiously.
“Yes, I am the Spirit of the River,” she replied, nodding her golden head. “Why do you wish to see me?”
“Because I want to leave the forest,” said Duldy quickly.
“I know you do,” cried Foamina, with a laugh which sounded like the ripple of water; “but you’ll never do so; I’ll foam round you like a brook, and you’ll never be able to jump across.”
“But why will you do so?” asked the shepherd.
“Because I love you—I love you!” she murmured, bending towards him; “and I won’t let you go to the Princess.”
“But I want to waken the Princess with a kiss.”