"Perhaps for me to be crowned in," said the girl, tossing her head. "I wonder where my crown is?"
And as she said this she heard a burst of laughter, as if a thousand grasshoppers were chirping. And an owl seated not far off said—
"Only queens are crowned, little girl."
"How do you know I am not a queen?" asked the girl, angrily. "Look at my dress and my veil."
But the owl only said—
"Tu-whit, tu-whoo! tu-whit, tu-whoo!" and laughed so loudly that all the wood-elves began to laugh also; so did the birds and the frogs, and even the flowers. And the echoes answered back again.
There was so much noise that a troop of little sailors came running up from the shore to see what was the matter.
"Are you ready?" said they to the girl; "the boat is waiting
With its silken sails,
The moon shines clear and bright;
There is no fear of stormy gales
Upon the sea to-night."
"I don't know what you are talking about," answered the girl. "There is no sea near here, and if there is I am not going upon it."