"Now, Connla," said the little man, "catch the bridle in your hands,
and you, Nora, clasp Connla round the waist, and close your eyes."
They did as they were bidden, and then the little man said, "Swash,
swish!" and the steed shot up from the strand like a lark from the
grass, and pierced the covering sea, and went bounding on over the
level waters; and when his hoofs struck the hard ground, Connla and
Nora opened their eyes, and they saw that they were galloping towards
a shady wood.
On went the steed, and soon he was galloping beneath the branches that
almost touched Connla's head. And on they went until they had passed
through the wood, and then they saw rising up before them the "Golden
Spear."
"Oh, Connla," said Nora, "we are at home at last."
"Yes," said Connla, "but where is the little house under the hill?"
And no little house was there; but in its stead was standing a
lime-white mansion.
"What can this mean?" said Nora.
But before Connla could reply, the steed had galloped up to the door
of the mansion, and, in the twinkling of an eye, Connla and Nora were
standing on the ground outside the door, and the steed had vanished.
Before they could recover from their surprise the little mother came
rushing out to them, and flung her arms around their necks, and kissed
them both again and again.
"Oh, children! children! You are welcome home to me; for though I knew
it was all for the best, my heart was lonely without you."
And Connla and Nora caught up the little mother in their arms, and
they carried her into the hall and set her down on the floor.
"Oh, Nora!" said the little mother, "you are a head over me; and as
for you, Connla, you look almost as tall as one of the round towers of
Erin."
"That's what the fairy queen said, mother," said Nora.
"Blessings on the fairy queen," said the little mother. "Turn round,
Connla, till I look at you."
Connla turned round, and the little mother said:
"Oh, Connla, with your golden helmet and your spear, and your glancing
shield, and your silken cloak, you look like a king. But take them
off, my boy, beautiful as they are. Your little mother would like to
see you, her own brave boy, without any fairy finery."
And Connla laid aside his spear and shield, and took off his golden
helmet and his silken cloak. Then he caught the little mother and
kissed her, and lifted her up until she was as high as his head. And
said he:
"Don't you know, little mother, I'd rather have you than all the
world."
And that night, when they were sitting down by the fire together, you
may be sure that in the whole world no people were half as happy as
Nora, Connla, and the little mother.