He realised at once that this could be none other than the nixy of the mill-pond , and in his terror he did n't know if he should fly away or remain where he was . While he hesitated the nixy spoke , called him by his name , and asked him why he was so sad . When the miller heard how friendly her tone was , he plucked up heart and told her how rich and prosperous he had been all his life up till now , when he did n't know what he was to do for want and misery . Then the nixy spoke comforting words to him , and promised that she would make him richer and more prosperous than he had ever been in his life before , if he would give her in return the youngest thing in his house . The miller thought she must mean one of his puppies or kittens , so promised the nixy at once what she asked , and returned to his mill full of hope . On the threshold he was greeted by a servant with the news that his wife had just given birth to a boy . The poor miller was much horrified by these tidings , and went in to his wife with a heavy heart to tell her and his relations of the fatal bargain he had just struck with the nixy . ' I would gladly give up all the good fortune she promised me , ' he said , ` if I could only save my child . ' But no one could think of any advice to give him , beyond taking care that the child never went near the mill-pond . So the boy throve and grew big , and in the meantime all prospered with the miller , and in a few years he was richer than he had ever been before . But all the same he did not enjoy his good fortune , for he could not forget his compact with the nixy , and he knew that sooner or later she would demand his fulfilment of it . But year after year went by , and the boy grew up and became a great hunter , and the lord of the land took him into his service , for he was as smart and bold a hunter as you would wish to see . In a short time he married a pretty young wife , and lived with her in great peace and happiness . One day when he was out hunting a hare sprang up at his feet , and ran for some way in front of him in the open field . The hunter pursued it hotly for some time , and at last shot it dead . Then he proceeded to skin it , never noticing that he was close to the mill-pond , which from childhood up he had been taught to avoid . He soon finished the skinning , and went to the water to wash the blood off his hands . He had hardly dipped them in the pond when the nixy rose up in the water , and seizing him in her wet arms she dragged him down with her under the waves . When the hunter did not come home in the evening his wife grew very anxious , and when his game bag was found close to the mill-pond she guessed at once what had befallen him . She was nearly beside herself with grief , and roamed round and round the pond calling on her husband without ceasing .
At last , worn out XXXXX sorrow and fatigue , she fell asleep and dreamt that she was wandering along a flowery meadow , when she came to a hut where she found an old witch , who promised to restore her husband to her .
In So While at by for of that to with