of a circle which on one side bordered on the house, for so much
had he picked up from the talk he had overheard.

It was getting towards the dawn, but as yet there was no streak of light
in the sky, when he came to a great birch-tree, and sat down weary
at the foot of it. While he sat--very miserable, you may be sure--
full of fear for the princess, and wondering how her attendants
could take it so quietly, he bethought himself that it would not
be a bad plan to light a fire, which, if she were anywhere near,
would attract her. This he managed with a tinder-box, which the
good fairy had given him. It was just beginning to blaze up,
when he heard a moan, which seemed to come from the other side of
the tree. He sprung to his feet, but his heart throbbed so that he
had to lean for a moment against the tree before he could move.
When he got round, there lay a human form in a little dark heap
on the earth. There was light enough from his fire to show that it
was not the princess. He lifted it in his arms, hardly heavier
than a child, and carried it to the flame. The countenance
was that of an old woman, but it had a fearfully strange look.
A black hood concealed her hair, and her eyes were closed.
He laid her down as comfortably as he could, chafed her hands,
put a little cordial from a bottle, also the gift of the fairy,
into her mouth; took off his coat and wrapped it about her,
and in short did the best he could. In a little while she opened
her eyes and looked at him--so pitifully! The tears rose and
flowed from her grey wrinkled cheeks, but she said never a word.
She closed her eyes again, but the tears kept on flowing, and her
whole appearance was so utterly pitiful that the prince was near
crying too. He begged her to tell him what was the matter,
promising to do all he could to help her; but still she did not speak.