king a bundle of straw, he threw it down on the bedstead.

IV

Sleep was sweeter to the Prince that night than it had ever been upon
a bed of down, and when he rose the next morning the monster's
features did not seem half so stern and forbidding as they had done at
first. The inside of the cave, too, looked much more light and
blithesome, though it was a dark and frowning place enough still, with
hard rock all round, and nothing but one window to let in a little
sunshine.

Necessity, however, did not intend to keep the Prince there, and as
soon as he was up the giant said to him: "Come, trudge; you must quit
my cave, and go on."

"You must open the door for me, then," said the Prince; "for the bolt
is so high up I cannot reach it."

"You cannot get out by the door through which you came in," said the
giant, "for it is the door of Idleness. There is but one way for you
to get out, and that I will show you."

So, taking him by the hand, he led him on into a very dark part of the
cave, which went a long way under ground, and then said to him: "You
must now go on until you come to a great house, where you will find an
old woman, who will give you your meals at least."

"But I want to return to my own palace of Prosperity," replied the
Prince.

"She will show you the way," replied the monster, "and without her you
will never find it. Go on at once, and don't stand talking."

"But I cannot see the path," said the Prince.

"You must find it," said Necessity, and gave him a great push, which
sent him on at a very rapid rate.

For some time he continued to grope his way almost in darkness, but
soon a light began to shine before him, which grew bigger and bigger
as he advanced, and he perceived that he was coming to another mouth
of the cave, leading to an open but very rough country. The Prince was
very glad indeed to issue forth and breathe the fresh air, and he
looked at the clear sky with great satisfaction. Just before him,
however, there was a large house, with a great number of doors and
windows; and as he felt very hungry, he determined to knock, and see
if he could get any breakfast.

Almost as soon as he had touched the knocker the door was opened by a
little old woman, plainly dressed, but neat and tidy: and when the
Prince told her who he was, and what he wanted, she answered him with
a good-humored smile, very different from the frown of stern
Necessity: "Every one can have food in my house w