“Little Kitchen-girl,” said the Cavalier, “I will get you a fixed place in the kitchen, with leave to see the Emperor dine, if you will lead us to the Nightingale, for it is promised for this evening.”

So they all went out into the wood where the Nightingale was wont to sing; half the court went out.  When they were on the way, a cow began to low.

“Oh!” cried the court pages, “now we have it!  That shows a great power in so small a creature!  We have certainly heard it before.”

“No, those are cows mooing!” said the little Kitchen-girl.  “We are a long way from the place yet.”

Now the frogs began to croak in the marsh.

“Glorious!” said the Chinese Court Preacher.  “Now I hear it—­it sounds just like little church bells.”

“No, those are frogs!” said the little Kitchen-maid.  “But now I think we shall soon hear it.”

And then the Nightingale began to sing.

“That is it!” exclaimed the little Girl.  “Listen, listen! and yonder it sits.”

And she pointed to a little gray bird up in the boughs.

“Is it possible?” cried the Cavalier.  “I should never have thought it looked like that!  How simple it looks!  It must certainly have lost its color at seeing so many famous people around.”

“Little Nightingale!” called the little Kitchen-maid, quite loudly, “our gracious Emperor wishes you to sing before him.”

“With the greatest pleasure!” replied the Nightingale, and sang so that it was a joy to hear it.

“It sounds just like glass bells!” said the Cavalier.  “And look at its little throat, how it’s working!  It’s wonderful that we should never have heard it before.  That bird will be a great success at court.”

“Shall I sing once more before the Emperor?” asked the Nightingale, for it thought the Emperor was present.

“My excellent little Nightingale,” said the Cavalier, “I have great pleasure in inviting you to a court festival this evening, when you shall charm his Imperial Majesty with your beautiful singing.”

“My song sounds best in the greenwood!” replied the Nightingale; still it came willingly when it heard what the Emperor wished.

In the palace there was a great brushing up.  The walls and the floor, which were of porcelain, shone with many thousand golden lamps.  The most glorious flowers, which could ring clearly, had been placed in the halls.  There was a running to and fro, and a draught of air, but all the bells rang so exactly together that one could not hear any noise.

In the midst of the great hall, where the Emperor sat, a golden perch had been placed, on which the Nightingale was to sit.  The whole court was there, and the little Cook-maid had leave to stand behind the door, as she had now received the title of a real cook-maid.  All were in full dress, and all looked at the little gray bird, to which the Emperor nodded.

And the Nightingale sang so gloriously that the tears came into the Emperor’s eyes, and the tears ran down over his cheeks; and then the Nightingale sang still more sweetly; that went straight to the heart.  The Emperor was happy, and he said the Nightingale should have his golden slipper to wear round its neck.  But the Nightingale thanked him, it had already got reward enough.