hat this was the favourite retreat of
the Princess Daylight. But he learned nothing more, both because he was
afraid of seeming inquisitive, and because the cook did not choose to be
heard talking about her mistress to a peasant lad who had begged for his
breakfast.

As he rose to take his leave, it occurred to him that he might not be
so far from the old woman's cottage as he had thought, and he asked the
cook whether she knew anything of such a place, describing it as well as
he could. She said she knew it well enough, adding with a smile--

"It's there you're going, is it?"

"Yes, if it's not far off."

"It's not more than three miles. But mind what you are about, you know."

"Why do you say that?"

"If you're after any mischief, she'll make you repent it."

"The best thing that could happen under the circumstances," remarked the
prince.

"What do you mean by that?" asked the cook.

"Why, it stands to reason," answered the prince "that if you wish to do
anything wrong, the best thing for you is to be made to repent of it."

"I see," said the cook. "Well, I think you may venture. She's a good old
soul."

"Which way does it lie from here?" asked the prince.

She gave him full instructions; and he left her with many thanks.

Being now refreshed, however, the prince did not go back to the cottage
that day: he remained in the forest, amusing himself as best he could,
but waiting anxiously for the night, in the hope that the princess would
again appear. Nor was he disappointed, for, directly the moon rose, he
spied a glimmering shape far across the glade. As it drew nearer, he saw
it was she indeed--not dressed in white as before: in a pale blue like
the sky, she looked lovelier still. He thought it was that the blue
suited her yet better than the white; he did not know that she was
really more beautiful because the moon was nearer the full. In fact the
next night was full moon, and the princess would then be at the zenith
of her loveliness.

The prince feared for some time that she was not coming near his
hiding-place that night; but the circles in her dance ever widened as
the moon rose, until at last they embraced the whole glade, and she
came still closer to the trees where he was hiding than she had come the
night before. He was entranced with her loveliness, for it was indeed a
marvellous thing. All night long he watched her, but dared not go near
her. He would have been ashamed of watching her too,