astleknowntohavebeenunoccupiedfornotellinghowmanyyears,hewasamazedtoseewashingspreadoutonthebattlements,smokerisingfromthechimneys,andopencasements.Ashelookedabouthim,henoticedabeautifulmaidenatoneoftheupperwindowsandsmiledather.Themaidensawtheprincetoo,dressedinyellow,withhuntersleggingsandgun,andsmilingather,soshesmiledbackathim.Forawholehour,theysmiled,bowed,andcurtsied,beingtoofaraparttocommunicateinanyotherway.
Thenextday,underthepretextofgoinghunting,thekingssonreturned,dressedinyellow,andtheystaredateachotherthistimefortwohours;inadditiontosmiles,bows,andcurtsies,theyputahandovertheirheartsandwavedhandkerchiefsatgreatlength.Thethirddaytheprincestoppedforthreehours,andtheybleweachotherkisses.Thefourthdayhewasthereasusual,whenfrombehindatreeawitchpeepedandbegantoguffaw:"Ho,ho,ho,ho!"
"Whoareyou?Whatssofunny?"snappedtheprince.
"Whatssofunny?Twoloverssillyenoughttostaysofarapart!"
"Wouldyouknowhowtogetanyclosertoher,ninny?"askedtheprince.
"Ilikeyouboth,"saidthewitch,"andIllhelpyou."
Sheknockedatthedoorandhandedtheladies-in-waitingabigoldbookwithyellow,smudgypages,sayingitwasagifttotheprincesssotheyoungladycouldpassthetimereading.Theladiestookittothegirl,whoopeneditatonceandread:"Thisisamagicbook.Turnthepagesforward,andthemanbecomesabird;turnthemback,andthebirdbecomesamanoncemore."
Thegirlrantothewindow,placedthebookonthesill,andturnedthepagesingreathastewhilewatchingtheyouthinyellowstandinginthepath.Movinghisarms,hewassoonflappingwingsandchangedintoacanary,dressedinyellowashewas.Uphesoaredabovethetreetopsandheadedstraightforthewindow,comingtorestonthecushionedsill.Theprincesscouldntresistpickingupthebeautifulcanaryandkissinghim;thenrememberinghewasayoungman,sheblushed.Butonsecondthoughtshewasntashamedatallandmadehastetoturnhimbackintoayouth.Shepickedupthebookandthumbedbackwardthroughit;thecanaryruffledhisyellowfeathers,flappedhiswings,thenmovedarmsandwasoncemoretheyouthdressedinyellowwiththehuntersleggings,whokneltbeforeher,declaring,"Iloveyou!"
Bythetimetheyfini
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