't see you home,' said James. 'I may be stupid but I'm strong
too.'

'How brave you are,' said Aura admiringly, 'but I'd rather slip away
quietly, without any fuss. Can't you undo the patent lock of that door?'
The apprentice tried but he was too stupid, and the Princess was not
strong enough.

'I'm sorry,' said the apprentice who was a Prince. 'I can't undo the
door, but when _he_ does I'll hold him and you can get away. I dreamed
of you this morning,' he added.

'I dreamed of you too,' said she, 'but you were different.'

'Perhaps,' said poor James sadly, 'the person you dreamed about wasn't
stupid, and I am.'

'Are you _really_?' cried the Princess. 'I _am_ so glad!'

'That's rather unkind, isn't it?' said he.

'No; because if _that's_ all that makes you different from the man I
dreamed about I can soon make _that_ all right.'

And with that she put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him. And at
her kiss his stupidness passed away like a cloud, and he became as
clever as any one need be; and besides knowing all the ordinary lessons
he would have learned if he had stayed at home in his palace, he knew
who he was, and where he was, and why, and he knew all the geography of
his father's kingdom, and the exports and imports and the condition of
politics. And he knew also that the Princess loved him.

So he caught her in his arms and kissed her, and they were very happy,
and told each other over and over again what a beautiful world it was,
and how wonderful it was that they should have found each other, seeing
that the world is not only beautiful but rather large.

'That first one was a magic kiss, you know,' said she. 'My fairy
godmother gave it to me, and I've been keeping it all these years for
you. You must get away from here, and come to the palace. Oh, you'll
manage it--you're clever now.'

'Yes,' he said, 'I _am_ clever now. I can undo the lock for you. Go, my
dear, go before he comes back.'

So the Princess went. And only just in time; for as she went out of one
door Taykin came in at the other.

He was furious to find her gone; and I should not like to write down the
things he said to his apprentice when he found that James had been so
stupid as to open the door for her. They were not polite things at all.

He tried to follow her. But the Princess had warned the guards, and he
could not get out.

'Oh,' he cried, 'if only my old magic would work outside this tower. I'd
soon be even with her.