WOODCUTTER.  What would his reward be?

PRINCESS.  His reward would be that the Princess, not being married to any of her three suitors, would still be able to help him chop his wood in the mornings. . . .  I am helping you, aren’t I?

WOODCUTTER (smiling).  Oh, decidedly.

PRINCESS (nodding).  I thought I was.

WOODCUTTER.  It is kind of a great lady like yourself to help so humble a fellow as I.

PRINCESS (meekly).  I’m not very great. (And she isn’t.  She is the smallest, daintiest little Princess that ever you saw.)

WOODCUTTER.  There’s enough of you to make a hundred men unhappy.

PRINCESS.  And one man happy?

WOODCUTTER.  And one man very, very happy.

PRINCESS (innocently).  I wonder who he’ll be. . . .  Woodcutter, if you were a Prince, would you be my suitor?

WOODCUTTER (scornfully).  One of three?

PRINCESS (excitedly).  Oo, would you kill the others?  With that axe?

WOODCUTTER.  I would not kill them, in order to help His Majesty make up his mind about his son-in-law.  But if the Princess had made up her mind—­and wanted me——­

PRINCESS.  Yes?

WOODCUTTER.  Then I would marry her, however many suitors she had.

PRINCESS.  Well, she’s only got three at present.

WOODCUTTER.  What is that to me?

PRINCESS.  Oh, I just thought you might want to be doing something to your axe.

WOODCUTTER.  My axe?

PRINCESS.  Yes.  You see, she has made up her mind.

WOODCUTTER (amazed).  You mean—­But—­but I’m only a woodcutter.

PRINCESS.  That’s where you’ll have the advantage of them, when it comes to axes.

WOODCUTTER.  Princess! (He takes her in his arms) My Princess!

PRINCESS.  Woodcutter!  My woodcutter!  My, oh so very slow and uncomprehending, but entirely adorable woodcutter!

(They sing together.  They just happen to feel like that)

WOODCUTTER (the song finished).  But what will His Majesty say?

PRINCESS.  All sorts of things. . . .  Do you really love me, woodcutter, or have I proposed to you under a misapprehension?

WOODCUTTER.  I adore you!

PRINCESS (nodding).  I thought you did.  But I wanted to hear you say it.  If I had been a simple peasant, I suppose you would have said it a long time ago?

WOODCUTTER.  I expect so.

PRINCESS (nodding).  Yes. . . .  Well, now we must think of a plan for making Mother like you.

WOODCUTTER.  Might I just kiss you again before we begin?

PRINCESS.  Well, I don’t quite see how I am to stop you.

(The WOODCUTTER picks her up in his arms and kisses her.)

WOODCUTTER.  There!

PRINCESS (in his arms).  Oh, Woodcutter, woodcutter, why didn’t you do that the first day I saw you?  Then I needn’t have had the bother of proposing to you. (He puts her down suddenly) What is it?