THE HIND OF THE WOOD
and, if you want to see how she recognises me, you will give her her liberty.'
The Prince then cut the ribbons in compliance with her request.
'Come along, my little Hind,' said Giroflée; 'kiss me!'
At this the little Hind threw herself on Giroflée's neck. 'Nestle to my heart! Now give me a sigh!' The Hind obeyed, and the Prince could not doubt that what Giroflée said was true.
'I give her to you,' said the Prince; 'for I see she loves you.'
Now when Becafigue saw Giroflée, he told the Prince that he had seen her in the castle with the Princess Désirée, and that he knew that Giroflée was staying in a part of their own hut. Why could they not find out if the Princess was staying there also? So the following night, the Prince having agreed, Becafigue listened through a chink in the wall of the hut, and what was his surprise to hear two voices talking! One said:
'Oh, that I might die at once! It would be better than to remain a Hind all the days of my life! What a fate! Only to be myself to you, and to all others a little White Hind! How terrible never to be able to talk to my Prince!'
Becafigue put his eye to the chink and this is what he saw.
There was the Princess in a beautiful dress all shining with gold. In her lovely hair were diamonds, but the tears in her eyes seemed to sparkle even more brightly. She was beautiful beyond words, and disconsolate beyond sorrow.
Becafigue nearly cried out with joy at sight of her. He ran off at once and told the Prince.
'Ah! seigneur,' said he, 'come with me at once and you will see in the flesh the maiden you love.'
The Prince ran with him, and when they came on tiptoe to the chink in the wall, he looked and saw his dear Princess.
Then so great was his joy that he could not be restrained. He went and knocked at the door, resolving to see his Princess at once.
Giroflée, thinking it was the old woman, opened the door, and the Prince immediately dashed into the room and threw himself at
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