mself.

Then the young man thanked the maiden for all she had done for him, and
said she should be his wife and none other. But the maiden only wept
sore, and answered that that she could never be, for she had given her
promise to the princess when she cut off her hair that the prince should
wed her and her only.

But the prince replied, 'If it is the princess, we must go quickly. Come
with me.'

So they went together to the king's palace. And when the king and queen
and princess saw the young man a great joy filled their hearts, for they
knew him for the eldest son, who had long ago been enchanted by a giant
and lost to them.

And he asked his parents' consent that he might marry the girl who had
saved him, and a great feast was made, and the maiden became a princess,
and in due time a queen, and she richly deserved all the honours
showered upon her.

The Man Without a Heart

Once upon a time there were seven brothers, who were orphans, and had no
sister. Therefore they were obliged to do all their own housework. This
they did not like at all; so after much deliberation they decided to get
married. There were, unfortunately, no young girls to be found in the
place where they lived; but the elder brothers agreed to go out into the
world and seek for brides, promising to bring back a very pretty wife
for the youngest also if he would meanwhile stay at home and take care
of the house. He consented willingly, and the six young men set off in
good spirits.

On their way they came to a small cottage standing quite by itself in
a wood; and before the door stood an old, old man, who accosted the
brothers saying, 'Hullo, you young fellows! Whither away so fast and
cheerily?'

'We are going to find bonny brides for ourselves, and one for our
youngest brother at home,' they replied.

'Oh! dear youths,' said the old man, 'I am terribly lonely here; pray
bring a bride for me also; only remember, she must be young and pretty.'

'What does a shrivelled old grey thing like that want with a pretty
young bride?' thought the brothers, and went on their way.

Presently they came to a town where were seven sisters, as young and as
lovely as anyone could wish. Each brother chose one, and the youngest
they kept for their brother at home. Then the whole party set out on the
return journey, and again their path led through the wood and past the
old man's cottage.

There he stood before the door, and cried: 'Oh! you fi