And as she stood in her poor dress before the king, he saw that she was much more beautiful than any one whom he had seen before; and he questioned her, only to find that she was very intelligent; and she was not at all afraid or ashamed of standing before the king, but looked about her with large wondering eyes, like the eyes of a child; and whoever met that innocent gaze, felt a great joy in his heart, and could not tell why.

And when the king had the mirror brought, and the reflection of the girl was thrown upon it, the mirror became much brighter than before, and shone like a great moon.
There was the maid whom the Spirit-king wished for.

The king easily obtained her from her parents; but he did not tell her what he intended to do with her.

Now it was his duty to give her to the Spirits; but there was a condition he found very hard to fulfil.

By the terms of his promise he was not allowed to kiss her, to caress her, or even to see her, except veiled after the manner of the country.