“‘You owe me none,’ said the Princess gently.  ’What I did was to save my parents and their people.  If it has served you in good stead, that for me is reward enough.  But,’ she added, ’I wish I had brought some of my pretty dresses with me.  It must look so rude to you to have this ugly black one.’

“The Prince begged her not to trouble herself about such a trifle—­to him she was beautiful as the day in whatever attire she happened to be.  And then they ate their supper with a good appetite, though it seemed strange to the Princess to be quite without attendants, sitting alone at table with a young man whom she had never seen before.

“And after supper a new idea struck her.

“‘Catch,’ she said, drawing the first ball out of the little pocket in the front of her dress, where she always carried her balls, and flinging it across the table to the Prince with her usual skill, not breaking a glass or bending a leaf of the flowers with which the dishes were adorned.

“In an instant the Prince had caught it, and as she sent off the second, crying again ‘Catch,’ he returned her the first, leaving his hand free for the third.

“‘Yes,’ said the Princess, after continuing this game for a little while.  ‘Yes, I see that you are a true Prince,’ for strange to say, he was as skilful at her game as she was herself.

“And they played with her balls for a long time throwing them higher and higher without ever missing, and laughing with pleasure, like two merry children.

“Then suddenly the Prince started from his seat, and his face grew sad and grave.

“‘I must go,’ he said; ‘my hour of liberty is over.’

“‘Go?’ said the Princess in surprise and distress, for she had found the Prince a very pleasant companion.  ’You must go? and leave me alone here?’

“She looked as if she were going to cry, and the Prince looked as if he were going to cry too.

“‘Alas, Princess!’ he said, ’in my joy for the moment, I had almost forgotten my sad fate;’ and then he went on to explain to her that for many years past he had been under a fairy spell, the work of an evil fairy who had vowed to revenge herself on his parents for some fancied insult to her.  He had been forced to take the form of a bull and to spread terror wherever he went; and the power of this spell was to continue till he should meet with a beautiful Princess who of her own free will would return with him to his country and treat him with friendliness, both of which conditions had been now fulfilled.

“‘Then all is right!’ exclaimed the Princess joyfully.  ’Why should you look so sad?’

“‘Alas! no,’ repeated the Prince, ’the spell is but partly broken.  I have only power to regain my natural form for three hours every evening after sunset.  And for three years more must it be so.  Then, if your goodness continues so long, all will indeed be right.  But during that time it will be necessary for you to live alone, except for the three hours I can pass with you, in this enchanted palace of mine.  No harm will befall you, all your wants will be supplied by invisible hands; but for a young and beautiful Princess like you, it will be a sad trial, and one that I feel I have no right to ask your consent to.’