shedconfessingalltheirloveforoneanother,itwasevening.Slowly,theprincessleafedthroughthebook.Lookingintohereyestheyouthturnedbackintoacanary,perchedonthewindowsill,thenontheeaves,thentrustingtothewind,flewdowninwidearcs,lightingonthelowerlimbofatree.Atthat,sheturnedthepagesbackinthebookandthecanarywasaprinceoncemorewhojumpeddown,whistledforhisdogs,threwakisstowardthewindow,andcontinuedalongthetrailoutofsight.
Soeverydaythepageswereturnedforwardtobringtheprinceflyinguptothewindowatthetopofthetower,thenturnedbackwardtorestorehishumanform,thenforwardagaintoenablehimtoflyaway,andfinallybackwardforhimtogethome.Neverintheirwholelifehadthetwoyoungpeopleknownsuchhappiness.
Onedaythequeencalledonherstepdaughter.Shewalkedabouttheroom,saying,"Youreallright,arentyou?Iseeyoureatrifleslimmer,butthatscertainlynocauseforconcern,isit?Itstrue,isntit,youveneverfeltbetter?"Asshetalked,shecheckedtoseethateverythingwasinplace.Sheopenedthewindowandpeeredout.Herecametheprinceinyellowalongthetrailwithhisdogs."Ifthissillygirlthinkssheisgoingtoflirtatthewindow,"saidthestepmothertoherself,"shehasanotherthoughtcomingtoher."Shesentthegirlforaglassofwaterandsomesugar,thenhurriedlyremovedfiveorsixhairpinsfromherownhairandconcealedtheminthepillowwiththesharppointsstickingstraightup."Thatwillteachhertoleanonthewindowsill!"Thegirlreturnedwiththewaterandsugar,butthequeensaid,"Oh,Imnolongerthirsty;youdrinkit,mydear!Imustbegettingbacktoyourfather.Youdontneedanything,doyou?Well,goodbye."Andshewasoff.
Assoonasthequeenscarriagewasoutofsight,thegirlhurriedlyflippedoverthepagesofthebook,theprinceturnedintoacanary,flewtothewindow,andstruckthepillowlikeanarrow.Heinstantlyletoutashrillcryofpain.Theyellowfeatherswerestainedwithblood;thecanaryhaddriventhepinsintohisbreast.Herosewithaconvulsiveflapping,trustedhimselftothewind,descendedinirregulararcs,andlitonthegroundwithoutstretchedwings.Thefrightenedprincess,notyetfullyawareofwhathadhappened,quicklyturnedthepagesbackinthehopetherewouldbenowoundswhenheregainedhish
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