to bed, he followed them
barefoot, so that he might make no noise, and hid himself under one of
the twelve beds, so as not to take up much room.

The princesses began at once to open their wardrobes and boxes. They
took out of them the most magnificent dresses, which they put on before
their mirrors, and when they had finished, turned themselves all round
to admire their appearances.

Michael could see nothing from his hiding-place, but he could hear
everything, and he listened to the princesses laughing and jumping with
pleasure. At last the eldest said, 'Be quick, my sisters, our partners
will be impatient.' At the end of an hour, when the Star Gazer heard
no more noise, he peeped out and saw the twelve sisters in splendid
garments, with their satin shoes on their feet, and in their hands the
bouquets he had brought them.

'Are you ready?' asked the eldest.

'Yes,' replied the other eleven in chorus, and they took their places
one by one behind her.

Then the eldest Princess clapped her hands three times and a trap door
opened. All the princesses disappeared down a secret staircase, and
Michael hastily followed them.

As he was following on the steps of the Princess Lina, he carelessly
trod on her dress.

'There is somebody behind me,' cried the Princess; 'they are holding my
dress.'

'You foolish thing,' said her eldest sister, 'you are always afraid of
something. It is only a nail which caught you.'

VII

They went down, down, down, till at last they came to a passage with
a door at one end, which was only fastened with a latch. The eldest
Princess opened it, and they found themselves immediately in a lovely
little wood, where the leaves were spangled with drops of silver which
shone in the brilliant light of the moon.

They next crossed another wood where the leaves were sprinkled with
gold, and after that another still, where the leaves glittered with
diamonds.

At last the Star Gazer perceived a large lake, and on the shores of
the lake twelve little boats with awnings, in which were seated twelve
princes, who, grasping their oars, awaited the princesses.

Each princess entered one of the boats, and Michael slipped into that
which held the youngest. The boats glided along rapidly, but Lina's,
from being heavier, was always behind the rest. 'We never went so slowly
before,' said the Princess; 'what can be the reason?'

'I don't know,' answered the Prince. 'I assure you I am rowing as hard