“‘I wish to see a young lady who lives here. She is the daughter of an old friend,’ said the stranger.
“The stepmother smiled very sweetly. ‘Come in. I will call her.’
“But instead of calling Eolen she called her own daughter. The girl went, but not with a good grace. She had been petted and spoiled, and was very saucy and impolite. The stranger smiled when he saw her.
“‘What was my mother doing when you saw her sitting by the Well at the End of the World?’ he asked.
“‘Do you take me for a crazy person?’ replied the girl.
“‘By no means,’ said the stranger. ‘You are not the young lady I came to see.’
“The stepmother then called Eolen and stood in the room frowning to see what was going to happen. Eolen came as soon as she was called, and the stranger seemed to be much struck by her beauty and modesty. He took her by the hand and led her to a chair.
“‘What was my mother doing when you saw her sitting by the Well at the End of the World?’ he asked.
“‘She was combing her hair,’ replied Eolen.
“‘That is true,’ remarked the stranger. ‘Yes, she was combing her hair.’ Then he turned to the stepmother and said: ‘May I see this young lady alone for a little while? I have a message for her from an old friend.’