At these last words Elizabeth turned pale, for she recollected that she was a servant, and must serve her fifty years.

“And what will it avail me,” cried she, “that I shall continue young, and be but as of twenty years when I go out, for my father and mother will be dead, and all my companions old and grey; and you, dearest John, will be old and grey also,” cried she, throwing herself on his bosom.

John was thunderstruck at this, for it had never before occurred to him.  He, however, comforted her as well as he could, and declared he would never leave the place without her.  He spent the whole night in forming various plans.  At last he fixed on one, and in the morning he despatched his servant to summon to his apartment six of the principal of the little people.  When they came, John thus mildly addressed them—­

“My friends, you know how I came here, not as a prisoner or servant, but as a lord and master over one of you, and of consequence over all.  You have now for the ten years I have been with you treated me with respect and attention, and for that I am your debtor.  But you are still more my debtors, for I might have given you every sort of vexation and annoyance, and you must have submitted to it.  I have, however, not done so, but have behaved as your equal, and have sported and played with you rather than ruled over you.  I have now one request to make.  There is a girl among your servants whom I love, Elizabeth Krabbe, of Rambin, where I was born.  Give her to me and let us depart, for I will return to where the sun shines and the plough goes through the land.  I ask to take nothing with me but her and the ornaments and furniture of my chamber.”

He spoke in a determined tone, and they hesitated and cast their eyes upon the ground.  At last the oldest of them replied—­

“Sir, you ask what we cannot grant.  It is a fixed law that no servant can leave this place before the appointed time.  Were we to break through this law our whole subterranean empire would fall.  Anything else you desire, for we love and respect you, but we cannot give up Elizabeth.”

“You can, and you shall, give her up!” cried John in a rage.  “Go, think of it till to-morrow.  Return then at this hour.  I will show you whether or not I can triumph over your hypocritical and cunning stratagems.”

The six retired.  Next morning, on their return, John addressed them in the kindest manner, but to no purpose.  They persisted in their refusal.  He gave them till the next day, threatening them severely in case they still proved refractory.

Next day, when the six little people appeared before him, John looked at them sternly, and made no return to their salutations, but said to them shortly—­

“Yes, or No?”

They answered, with one voice, “No.”  He then ordered his servant to summon twenty-four more of the principal persons, with their wives and children.  When they came they were in all five hundred men, women, and children.  John ordered them forthwith to go and fetch pick-axes, spades, and bars, which they did in a second.