In a short time the wedding took place, and then the question arosein which city should the young couple dwell. The Princess decided it.

"In the winter," she exclaimed to the Prince, "We will live in your city,where all is life and activity; and where the homes are so wellbuilt with all the latest improvements. In the summer, we will cometo my city, where everything is very aged, and shady, and serene." Thisthey did, and were fairly happy.

The Gryphoness would have been glad to go and live with the Princess,for she had taken a great fancy to her; but she did not think itworth her while to ask permission to do this.

"My impulses, I know, are good," she exclaimed; "but my appearance isagainst me."

As for the Water Sprite, she was in a truly disconsolate mood,because she had left so soon the Land of the Lovely Lakes, where shehad been so ecstatic. The more she thought about it, the more shegrieved; and one afternoon, unable to bear her sorrow longer, shesprang into the great jet of the fountain. High into the bright airthe fountain threw her, scattering her into a thousand drops ofglittering water; but not one drop fell back into the basin. Thegreat, hot sun drew them up; and, in a little black cloud, theyfloated away across the bright black sky.