They conducted Nymphalin to their palace within the earth, and feasted her sumptuously; and Nip told their adventures with so much spirit that he enchanted the merry foreigners.

But Fayzenheim talked apart to Nymphalin, and told her how he was lord of that island, and how he had been obliged to return to his dominions by the law of his tribe, which allowed him to be absent only a certain time in every year.

"But, my queen, I always intended to revisit thee next spring." "Thou need'st not have left us so abruptly," said Nymphalin, blushing.
"But do _thou_ never leave me!" said the ardent fairy; "be mine, and let our nuptials be celebrated on these shores.

Wouldst thou sigh for thy green island?
No! for _there_ the fairy altars are deserted, the faith is gone from the land; thou art among the last of an unhonoured and expiring race.

Thy mortal poets are dumb, and Fancy, which was thy priestess, sleeps hushed in her last repose.