this one where she found herself.  Not even her mother’s great saloon, which she had always thought so magnificent, was to be compared with it.  It was not very large, but it was more like Fairyland than anything she had ever dreamt of.  The loveliest flowers were trained against the walls, here and there fountains of delicately scented waters refreshed the air, the floor was covered with carpets of the richest hues and the softest texture.  There were birds singing among the flowers, gold and silver fish sporting in the marble basins—­it was a perfect fairy’s bower.  The Princess sat up and looked about her.  There was no one to be seen, not a sound but the dropping of the fountains and the soft chatter of the birds.  The Princess admired it all exceedingly, but she was very hungry, and as her long sleep had completely refreshed her, she felt no longer inclined to lie still.  So she crossed the room to where a curtain was hanging, which she thought perhaps concealed a door.  She drew aside the curtain, the door behind was already open; she found herself in a second room, almost as beautiful as the first, and lighted in the same way with coloured lamps hanging from the roof.  And to her great delight, before her was a table already laid for supper with every kind of delicious fruit and bread, and cakes, and everything that a young Princess could desire.  She was so hungry that she at once sat down to the table, and then she perceived to her surprise that it was laid for two!

“‘Can the bull be coming to sup with me?’ she said to herself, half laughing at the idea.  And she added aloud, ’Come if you like, Mr. Bull; I find your house very pretty, and I thank you for your hospitality.’

“And as she said the words, a voice which somehow seemed familiar to her, replied,

“’I thank you, gracious Princess, for your permission.  Without it I could not have entered your presence as I do now,’ and looking up, she saw, coming in by another door that she had not noticed, a most unexpected visitor.

“It was not the bull, it was a young Prince such as our pretty Princess, who was not without her daydreams, like other young girls, had sometimes pictured to herself as coming on a splendid horse, with his followers around him in gallant attire, to ask her of her parents.  He was well made and manly, with a bright and pleasant expression, and dressed, of course, to perfection.  The Princess glanced at her plain black robe in vexation, and her fair face flushed.

“‘I knew not,’ she began.  ’I thought I should see no one but the brown bull.’

“The Prince laughed merrily.  He was in good spirits naturally, as any one would be who, after being forced for ten years to wear a frightful and hideous disguise, and to behave like a rough and surly bull, instead of like a well-born gentleman, should suddenly find himself in his own pleasant person again.

“‘I was the bull,’ he said, ’but you, Princess, have transformed me.  How can I ever show you my gratitude?’