a woman
more beautiful than the roses of the garden, more musical than the
nightingales, and far more graceful than the plashing fountains.

One balmy day in spring, when the birds were singing lively songs on the
trees, and the crocuses were coaxing the jonquils almost off their very
stems with their pretty ways, Aufalia went out to take a little
promenade, followed by two grim slaves. Closely veiled, she walked in
the secluded suburbs of the town, where she was generally required to
take her lonely exercise. To-day, however, the slaves, impelled by a
sweet tooth, which each of them possessed, thought it would be no harm
if they went a little out of their way to procure some sugared
cream-beans, which were made excellently well by a confectioner near the
outskirts of the city. While they were in the shop, bargaining for the
sugar-beans, a young man who was passing thereby stepped up to the
Princess, and asked her if she could tell him the shortest road to the
baths, and if there was a good eating-house in the neighborhood. Now as
this was the first time in her life that the Princess had been addressed
by a young man, it is not surprising that she was too much astonished to
speak, especially as this youth was well dressed, extremely handsome,
and of proud and dignified manners,--although, to be sure, a little
travel-stained and tired-looking.

[Illustration]

When she had somewhat recovered from her embarrassment, she raised her
veil, (as if it was necessary to do so in speaking to a young man!) and
told him that she was sure she had not the slightest idea where any
place in the city was,--that she very seldom went into the city, and
never thought about the way to any place when she did go,--that she
wished she knew where those places were that he mentioned, for she would
very much like to tell him, especially if he was hungry, which she knew
was not pleasant, and no doubt he was not used to it, but that indeed
she hadn't any idea about the way anywhere, but--

There is no knowing how long the Princess might have run on thus (and
her veil up all the time) had not the two slaves at that moment emerged
from the sugar-bean shop. The sight of the Princess actually talking to
a young man in the broad daylight so amazed them, that they stood for a
moment dumb in the door. But, recovering from their surprise, they drew
their cimeters, and ran toward the Prince (for such his every action
proclaimed him to be). When this hi