would you let me in here with my hind?—I want a small room."
"Yes, my pretty girl;" replied she; "I will willingly give you shelter here; come in with your hind." She led them directly into a very pretty room, wainscoted with cherry-tree wood; in it were two little white dimity beds, and fine sheets, and all appeared so simple and clean, that the Princess has since declared that she never saw anything more to her taste.
As soon as it was quite dark, Désirée ceased to be a hind; she embraced her dear Giroflée a hundred times; she thanked her for her affection, which induced her to follow her fortunes, and promised her, she would make her very happy the moment her penance had ended.
The old woman knocked gently at their door, and without entering, gave Giroflée some excellent fruit, which the Princess ate with a good appetite. They then went to bed, and as soon as daylight appeared Désirée, having become a hind again, began to scratch at the door, that Giroflée might open it for her. They were both very sorry to be separated, although for so short a time; and the Hind, having plunged into the thickest part of the wood, commenced running about there as usual.
I have already said that Prince Guerrier had halted in the forest, and that Becafigue was hunting through it in all directions for some fruit. It was already late when he arrived at the cottage belonging to the good old woman of whom I have spoken. He spoke politely to her, and asked her for several things his master wanted. She hastened to fill a basket, and gave it him. "I fear," said she, "that if you pass the night here without shelter some accident will happen to you. I can offer you a very humble one, but at all events it will save you from the lions."
He thanked her, and said he was with one of his friends, to whom he would go back and propose their coming to her house. In short, he knew so well how to persuade the Prince, that he allowed himself to be conducted to the old woman's cottage: she was still at the door, and without making any noise, she led them to a room like the one the Princess occupied, and from which it was only separated by a wooden partition.
