At the left, flowers of every clime. Fountains played, white-robed maidens moved among the fruit and flowers, or reclined on banks of violets and roses.
Soft music floated around us. Between each arch was a seat. Every seat was a bank of flowers, each different from the other.
Above each seat was a statue of a fairy of the Harz, alternately in mountain crystal and snowy alabaster.
At the upper end, under a majestic arch, stood Princess Ilse's throne.
The throne was one ruby, the canopy a single pearl, the steps leading up to the throne were emeralds.
Near the throne, in front of an arch, stood a table of silver, and two chairs of mountain crystal beside it.
The service was of gold, filled with the viands of the fairy world, and the choicest fruits and flowers.
A group of fair maidens sat in a rose arbour playing harp, lute, and harpsichord, while others stood by the table in attendance.
A pearl plate was handed us, and Princess Ilse herself poured the crimson wine into gilded crystal goblets bearing her monogram in diamonds and sapphires, touched her glass to mine, and saying, "I drink to thy happiness," she pressed her own glass to my lips, when lo! I awoke, and there stood Josephine, poking a fern in my face.
"Oh, Josie!" I exclaimed, "you can never know of how much you have robbed me with that stupid fern!"