“And now the sponsorsgifts were presented，and presents were thrown them.These presents flew like pebbles(pebble n.小圆石，小鹅卵石)across the seawater.Each of the elfmaidens gave a little piece of her veil.‘Take that，’they said，‘and then youll know the higher dance，the most difficult turns and twists—that is to say，if you should find them necessary.Youll know the proper deportment，and then you can show yourself in the very pick of society.’
“接着舞会发起人就散发礼品：‘打水漂’——这就是礼物的名字。礼物像矽石似的在沼泽地的水上飞过去。每个姑娘又彼此赠送一小片面纱。‘把这拿去吧！’她们说，‘那么你就会跳更高级的舞——那些不可少的比较困难的旋转和扭腰。这样你们就有恰当的风度，你们就可以在上流社会里表现自己。’
“The night raven taught each of the young WillotheWisps to say，‘Googoogood，’and to say it in the right place；and thats a great gift which brings its own reward.The owl and the stork—but they said it was not worth mentioning，and so we wont mention it.
“夜渡鸟教每一个年轻的鬼火说：‘好——好——好。’而且教他们在什么场合说最恰当。这是一件最大的礼品，它可以使你受用不尽。猫头鹰和鹳鸟也提了一些意见——不过他们说，这都不值得一谈，因此我们就不提了。
“King Waldemars wild chase was just then rushing over the moor，and when the great lords heard of the festivities that were going on，they sent a couple of handsome dogs，which hunt on the spoor of the wind，as a present；and these might carry two or three of the WillotheWisps.A couple of old Alpas，spirits who occupy themselves with Alppressing，were also at the feast；and from these the young WillotheWisps learned the art of slipping through every keyhole，as if the door stood open before them.These Alpas offered to carry the youngsters to the town，with which they were well acquainted.They usually rode through the atmosphere on their own back hair，which is fastened into a knot，for they love a hard seat；but now they sat sideways on the wild hunting dogs，took the young WillotheWisps in their laps，who wanted to go into the town to mislead and entice mortals，and，whisk(whisk n.扫帚，毛掸子vt.扫，拂，挥动，迅速移动vi.飞奔)！Away they were.
“国王瓦尔得马尔这时正来到沼泽地上野猎。当这些贵族们听到这个盛会时，他们就赠送了一对漂亮的猎犬，作为礼品。它们追起东西来跟风一样快，同时能够背起一个到三个鬼火。两个老梦魔——他们靠骑着东西飞行过日子——也来参加了这次盛会。他们马上就传授起钻钥匙孔的技术来，使得所有的门等于没有。这两位老梦魔还提议把小鬼火们带到城里去，因为城里的情形他们很熟悉。他们一般是骑在自己的鬃毛上在空中飞过，而且总是把毛打一个结，因为他们喜欢坐硬席。可是他们现在叉着腿坐在猎犬身上，把这些年轻的鬼火——他们打算到城里去把人引入歧途——抱在怀里，于是嘘的一声，他们就不见了。
“Now，this is what happened last night.Today the WillotheWisps are in the town，and have taken the matter in hand—but where and how？Ah，can you tell me that？Still，Ive a lightning conductor in my great toe，and that will always tell me something.”
“这全是昨天夜里发生的事情。现在鬼火到城里来了，开始进行工作——不过怎样进行呢？唉！你能够告诉我吗？我的大脚趾里有一根气候线。它总是告诉我一些事情的。”
“Why，this is a complete story.”exclaimed the man.
“这倒是一个完整的童话呢。”这人说。
“Yes，but it is only the beginning.”replied the woman.“Can you tell me how the WillotheWisps deport themselves，and how they behave？and in what shapes they have aforetime appeared and led people into crooked paths？”
“是的，不过这只是童话的一个开头。”沼泽女人说。“你能够告诉我，鬼火的行为和做的事情是怎样的吗？他们以什么样的形态来把人引到邪路上去呢？”
