“But where is the company?”

Scarcely had he spoken when the hall they were in opened out to a great extent, and a canopy set with diamonds and precious stones was drawn over it.  At the same moment he saw an immense throng of nicely dressed little men and women pouring in through several open doors.  The floor opened in several places, and tables, covered with the most beautiful ware, and the most luscious meats and fruits and wines, placed themselves beside each other, and the chairs arranged themselves along the tables, and then the men and women took their seats.

The principal persons now came forward and bowed to John, and led him to their table, where they placed him among their most beautiful maidens, a distinction which pleased John well.  The party, too, was very merry, for the underground people are extremely lively and cheerful, and can never stay long quiet.  Then the most charming music sounded over their heads, and beautiful birds, flying about, sang most sweetly, and these were not real birds but artificial ones which the little men make so ingeniously that they can fly about and sing like natural ones.

The servants of both sexes who waited at table and handed about the golden cups, and the silver and crystal baskets with fruit, were children belonging to this world, whom some casualty or other had thrown among the underground people, and who, having come down without securing any pledge, were fallen into the power of the little ones.  These were differently clad.  The boys and girls were dressed in short white coats and jackets, and wore glass shoes so fine that their step could never be heard, with blue caps on their heads, and silver belts round their waists.

John at first pitied them, seeing how they were forced to run about and wait on the little people, but as they looked cheerful and happy, and were handsomely dressed, and had such rosy cheeks, he said to himself—­“After all, they are not so badly off, and I was myself much worse when I had to be running after the cows and bullocks.  To be sure I am now a master here, and they are servants, but there is no help for it.  Why were they so foolish as to let themselves be taken and not get some pledge beforehand?  At any rate the time must come when they will be set at liberty, and they will certainly not be longer than fifty years here.”

With these thoughts he consoled himself, and sported and played away with his little play-fellows, and ate, and drank, and made his servant tell him stories, for he would know everything exactly.

They sat at table about two hours.  The principal person then rang a bell, and the tables and chairs all vanished in a whiff, leaving all the company on their feet.  The birds now struck up a most lively air, and the little people danced their rounds most merrily.  When they were done, the joyous sets jumped and leaped, and whirled themselves round and round, as if the world was grown dizzy.  The pretty