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doors were to be shut that she might not get away so
easily。 Short as Miranda's absence had been； it had
seemed like a hundred years to the King of the Sheep。
He was waiting for her by a fountain in the thickest part
of the forest； and the ground was strewn with splendid
presents which he had prepared for her to show his joy
and gratitude at her coming back。
As soon as she was in sight he rushed to meet her；
leaping and bounding like a real sheep。 He caressed her
tenderly； throwing himself at her feet and kissing her
hands； and told her how uneasy he had been in her
absence； and how impatient for her return； with an
eloquence which charmed her。
After some time came the news that the King's second
daughter was going to be married。 When Miranda heard
it she begged the King of the Sheep to allow her to go and
see the wedding as before。 This request made him feel
very sad； as if some misfortune must surely come of it；
but his love for the Princess being stronger than anything
else he did not like to refuse her。
〃You wish to leave me； Princess；〃 said he； 〃it is my
unhappy fateyou are not to blame。 I consent to your
going； but； believe me； I can give you no stronger proof
of my love than by so doing。〃
The Princess assured him that she would only stay a
very short time； as she had done before； and begged him
not to be uneasy； as she would be quite as much grieved
if anything detained her as he could possibly be。
So； with the same escort； she set out； and reached the
palace as the marriage ceremony began。 Everybody was
delighted to see her； she was so pretty that they thought
she must be some fairy princess； and the Princes who were
there could not take their eyes off her。
The King was more glad than anyone else that she had
come again； and gave orders that the doors should all be
shut and bolted that very minute。 When the wedding
was all but over the Princess got up quickly； hoping to
slip away unnoticed among the crowd； but； to her great
dismay； she found every door fastened。
She felt more at ease when the King came up to her； and
with the greatest respect begged her not to run away so
soon； but at least to honor him by staying for the splendid
feast which was prepared for the Princes and Princesses。
He led her into a magnificent hall； where all the Court was
assembled； and himself taking up the golden bowl full of
water； he offered it to her that she might dip her pretty
fingers into it。
At this the Princess could no longer contain herself；
throwing herself at the King's feet； she cried out：
〃My dream has come true after allyou have offered
me water to wash my hands on my sister's wedding day；
and it has not vexed you to do it。〃
The King recognized her at onceindeed； he had
already thought several times how much like his poor little
Miranda she was。
〃Oh！ my dear daughter；〃 he cried； kissing her； 〃can you
ever forget my cruelty？ I ordered you to be put to death
because I thought your dream portended the loss of my
crown。 And so it did；〃 he added； 〃for now your sisters
are both married and have kingdoms of their ownand
mine shall be for you。〃 So saying he put his crown on the
Princess's head and cried：
〃Long live Queen Miranda！〃
All the Court cried： 〃Long live Queen Miranda！〃 after
him； and the young Queen's two sisters came running up；
and threw their arms round her neck； and kissed her a
thousand times； and then there was such a laughing and
crying； talking and kissing； all at once； and Miranda
thanked her father； and began to ask after everyone
particularly the Captain of the Guard； to whom she owed
so much； but； to her great sorrow； she heard that he was
dead。 Presently they sat down to the banquet； and the
King asked Miranda to tell them all that had happened
to her since the terrible morning when he had sent the
Captain of the Guard to fetch her。 This she did with so
much spirit that all the guests listened with breathless
interest。 But while she was thus enjoying herself with
the King and her sisters； the King of the Sheep was waiting
impatiently for the time of her return； and when it
came and went； and no Princess appeared； his anxiety
became so great that he could bear it no longer。
〃She is not coming back any more；〃 he cried。 〃My
miserable sheep's face displeases her； and without
Miranda what is left to me； wretched creature that I am！
Oh！ cruel Ragotte； my punishment is complete。〃
For a long time he bewailed his sad fate like this； and
then； seeing that it was growing dark； and that still there
was no sign of the Princess； he set out as fast as he could
in the direction of the town。 When he reached the palace
he asked for Miranda； but by this time everyone had
heard the story of her adventures； and did not want her
to go back again to the King of the Sheep； so they refused
sternly to let him see her。 In vain he begged and prayed
them to let him in； though his entreaties might have
melted hearts of stone they did not move the guards of
the palace； and at last； quite broken…hearted； he fell dead
at their feet。
In the meantime the King； who had not the least idea
of the sad thing that was happening outside the gate of his
palace； proposed to Miranda that she should be driven in
her chariot all round the town； which was to be illuminated
with thousands and thousands of torches； placed in
windows and balconies； and in all the grand squares。
But what a sight met her eyes at the very entrance of the
palace！ There lay her dear； kind sheep； silent and motionless；
upon the pavement！
She threw herself out of the chariot and ran to him；
crying bitterly； for she realized that her broken promise
had cost him his life； and for a long； long time she was so
unhappy that they thought she would have died too。
So you see that even a princess is not always happy
especially if she forgets to keep her word； and the greatest
misfortunes often happen to people just as they think they
have obtained their heart's desires！＇1＇
＇1＇ Madame d'Aulnoy。