"They have only one service at Woodbridge, morning and afternoon by
turns," he explained, "and so they are all gone to it."
"Who is that girl?" asked Janet.
"Undine," he coolly replied.
"She certainly appeared on the bridge," said his mother, "but I
should think Undine's colouring had been less radiant-—more of the
blue and white."
"She had not a whiter skin nor bluer eyes," said Allen, "nor made
herself more ridiculous either. Did you ever see such hair, mother?
Hullo, Elfie. There she is, peeping in at the window, just as Undine
did; Come in!" he cried at the door. "No, not she," as he returned
baffled; "she is off again!"
"But, Allen, who is she? Not Farmer Gould's daughter."
"Of course not. Don't you know she was fished up in a net, and
belonged to a palace under the ocean full of pearls and diamonds.
She took such a fancy to me that no power on earth would make her go
to Church with the rest. She ran away, and hid, and when they were
all gone she came out and curled herself up at my feet and chattered,
till I happened to offend her majesty, and off she went like a shot.
I'm only thankful that she did not make her pearly teeth meet in my
finger in true Undine fashion."
"But who is she, really?"
"I can't quite make out.
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