he rest, and there saw
Thumbling quietly seated on the shoulder of his terrible servant.

Our adventurer sprang lightly to the balcony of the second story, where
he saw his betrothed, and, bending gracefully on one knee, he said:--

"Princess, you asked me for a slave; I present you two."

This gallant speech was published the next morning in the Court Gazette;
but at the moment it was said it was quite embarrassing to the poor
king; and as he didn't know how to reply to it, he drew the princess one
side, and thus addressed her:--

[Illustration]

"My child, I have now no possible excuse for refusing your hand to this
daring young man; sacrifice yourself, my darling, to your country;
remember that princesses do not marry to please themselves."

"Pardon me, father," answered the princess, courtesying; "princess or
not, every woman likes to marry according to her taste. Let me defend my
rights as I think best."

"Thumbling," added she, aloud, "you are brave and lucky; but that is not
enough alone to please women."

"I know that," answered Thumbling; "it is necessary besides to do their
pleasure, and submit to their caprices."

"You are a witty fellow," said the princess; "and since you understand
me so well, I am going to propose another trial to you. You need not be
alarmed, for this time you will only have me for an antagonist. Let us
try and see who will be the sharpest and quickest, and my hand shall be
the prize of the battle."

Thumbling assented, with a low bow, and followed the court into the
great hall of audience, where the trial was to take place. There, to the
affright of all, the Troll was found, sprawling on the floor; for, as
the hall was only fifteen feet high, the poor fellow couldn't get up. On
a sign of his young master, he crawled humbly to him, happy and proud
to obey. It was Force itself, in the service of Wit.

"Now," said the princess, "let us begin with some nonsense. It is an old
story that women are not afraid to lie; and we will see which of us will
stand the biggest story without objection. The first one who says,
'_That is too much_,' will be beaten."

"I am always at the service of your Royal Highness," answered Thumbling;
"whether to lie in sport, or to tell the truth in sober earnest."

"I am sure," began the princess, "that you haven't got a farm half as
beautiful as ours; and it is so large, that, when two shepherds are
blowing their horns at each end of it, neither can he