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had already placed a little boat for her。
The water was not deep enough to float it； but they hoped it would
be； before long。 They laid her on cushions； placed in the boat
wines and fruits and other nice things； and stretched a canopy over
all。
In a few minutes the prince appeared。 The princess recognized him
at once； but did not think it worth while to acknowledge him。
〃Here I am；〃 said the prince。 〃Put me in。〃
〃They told me it was a shoeblack；〃 said the princess。
〃So I am；〃 said the prince。 〃I blacked your little boots three
times a day； because they were all I could get of you。 Put me in。〃
The courtiers did not resent his bluntness； except by saying to
each other that he was taking it out in impudence。
But how was he to be put in？ The golden plate contained no
instructions on this point。 The prince looked at the hole； and saw
but one way。 He put both his legs into it； sitting on the stone；
and； stooping forward； covered the corner that remained open with
his two hands。 In this uncomfortable position he resolved to abide
his fate； and turning to the people； said；
〃Now you can go。〃
The king had already gone home to dinner。
〃Now you can go；〃 repeated the princess after him； like a parrot。
The people obeyed her and went。
Presently a little wave flowed over the stone； and wetted one of
the prince's knees。 But he did not mind it much。 He began to sing；
and the song he sang was this：
〃As a world that has no well；
Darting bright in forest dell；
As a world without the gleam
Of the downward…going stream；
As a world without the glance
Of the ocean's fair expanse；
As a world where never rain
Glittered on the sunny plain；
Such； my heart； thy world would be；
if no love did flow in thee。
As a world without the sound
Of the rivulets underground；
Or the bubbling of the spring
Out of darkness wandering；
Or the mighty rush and flowing
Of the river's downward going；
Or the music…showers that drop
On the outspread beech's top；
Or the ocean's mighty voice；
When his lifted waves rejoice；
Such； my soul； thy world would be；
if no love did sing in thee。
Lady； keep thy world's delight；
Keep the waters in thy sight。
Love hath made me strong to go；
For thy sake； to realms below；
Where the water's shine and hum
Through the darkness never come；
Let； I pray； one thought of me
Spring； a little well； in thee；
Lest thy loveless soul be found
Like a dry and thirsty ground。〃
〃Sing again； prince。 It makes it less tedious；〃 said the princess。
But the prince was too much overcome to sing any more； and a long
pause followed。
〃This is very kind of you； prince；〃 said the princess at last；
quite coolly； as she lay in the boat with her eyes shut。
〃I am sorry I can't return the compliment；〃 thought the prince；
〃but you are worth dying for； after all。〃
Again a wavelet； and another； and another flowed over the stone；
and wetted both the prince's knees； but he did not speak or move。
Twothreefour hours passed in this way； the princess apparently
asleep； and the prince very patient。 But he was much disappointed
in his position； for he had none of the consolation he had hoped
for。
At last he could bear it no longer。
〃Princess！〃 said he。
But at the moment up started the princess； crying；
〃I'm afloat！ I'm afloat！〃
And the little boat bumped against the stone。
〃Princess！〃 repeated the prince； encouraged by seeing her wide
awake and looking eagerly at the water。
〃Well？〃 said she； without looking round。
〃Your papa promised that you should look at me； and you haven't
looked at me once。〃
〃Did he？ Then I suppose I must。 But I am so sleepy！〃
〃Sleep then； darling； and don't mind me；〃 said the poor prince。
〃Really； you are very good；〃 replied the princess。 〃I think I will
go to sleep again。〃
〃Just give me a glass of wine and a biscuit first；〃 said the
prince； very humbly。
〃With all my heart；〃 said the princess； and gaped as she said it。
She got the wine and the biscuit； however； and leaning over the
side of the boat towards him； was compelled to look at him。
〃Why； prince；〃 she said； 〃you don't look well！ Are you sure you
don't mind it？〃
〃Not a bit；〃 answered he； feeling very faint in deed。 〃Only I shall
die before it is of any use to you； unless I have something to
eat。〃
〃There； then；〃 said she； holding out the wine to him。
〃Ah！ you must feed me。 I dare not move my hands。 The water would
run away directly。〃
〃Good gracious！〃 said the princess； and she began at once to feed
him with bits of biscuit and sips of wine。
As she fed him； he contrived to kiss the tips of her fingers now
and then。 She did not seem to mind it； one way or the other。 But
the prince felt better。
〃Now for your own sake； princess；〃 said he； 〃I cannot let you go to
sleep。 You must sit and look at me； else I shall not be able to
keep up。〃
〃Well； I will do anything I can to oblige you；〃 answered she； with
condescension； and； sitting down； she did look at him； and kept
looking at him with wonderful steadiness； considering all things。
The sun went down； and the moon rose； and； gush after gush； the
waters were rising up the prince's body。 They were up to his waist
now。
〃Why can't we go and have a swim？〃 said the princess。 〃There seems
to be water enough Just about here。〃
〃I shall never swim more；〃 said the prince。
〃Oh； I forgot；〃 said the princess； and was silent。
So the water grew and grew； and rose up and up on the prince。 And
the princess sat and looked at him。 She fed him now and then。 The
night wore on。 The waters rose and rose。 The moon rose likewise
higher and higher； and shone full on the face of the dying prince。
The water was up to his neck。
〃Will you kiss me； princess？〃 said he； feebly。
The nonchalance was all gone now。
〃Yes； I will；〃 answered the princess； and kissed him with a long；
sweet； cold kiss。
〃Now；〃 said he； with a sigh of content； 〃I die happy。〃
He did not speak again。 The princess gave him some wine for the
last time： he was past eating。 Then she sat down again； and looked
at him。 The water rose and rose。 It touched his chin。 It touched
his lower lip。 It touched between his lips。 He shut them hard to
keep it out。 The princess began to feel strange。 It touched his
upper lip。 He breathed through his nostrils。 The princess looked
wild。 It covered his nostrils。 Her eyes looked scared； and shone
strange in the moonlight。 His head fell back； the water closed over
it； and the bubbles of his last breath bubbled up through the
water。 The princess gave a shriek； and sprang into the lake。
She laid hold first of one leg； and then of the other； and pulled
and tugged； but she could not move either。 She stopped to take
breath； and that made her think that HE could not get any breath。
She was frantic。 She got hold of him； and held his head above the
water； which was possible now his hands were no longer on the hole。
But it was of no use； for he was past breathing。
Love and water brought back all her strength。 She got under the
water； and pulled and pulled with her whole might； till at last she
got one leg out。 The other easily followed。 How she got him into
the boat she never could tell； but when she did； she fainted away。
Coming to herself； she seized the oars； kept herself steady as best
she could； and rowed and rowed； though she had never rowed before。
Round rocks； and over shallows； and through mud she rowed； till she
got to the landing… stairs of the palace。 By this time her people
were on the shore； for they had heard her shriek。 She made them
carry the prince to her own room； and lay him in her bed； and light
a fire； and send for the doctors。
〃But the lake； your Highness！〃 said the chamberlain； who； roused by
the noise； came in； in his nightcap。
〃Go and drown yourself in it！〃 she said。
This was the last rudeness of which the princess was ever guilty；
and one must allow that she had good cause to feel provoked with
the lord chamberlain。
Had it been the king himself； he would have fared no better。 But
both he and the queen were fast asleep。 And the chamberlain went
back to his bed。 Somehow； the doctors never came。 So the princess
and her old nurse were left with the prince。 But the old nurse was
a wise woman； and knew what to do。
They tried everything for a long time without success。 The princess
was nearly distracted between hope and fear； but she tried on and
on； one thing after another； and everything over and over again。
At last； when they had all but given it up； just as the sun rose；
the prince opened his eyes。
15。 Look at the Rain！
The princess burst into a passion of tears； and fell on the f