I will never marry him," said the princess.

"Do what I tell you," said the cat. "When he asks you to marry him,
say to him you will if his dwarfs will wind for you three balls from
the fairy dew that lies on the bushes on a misty morning as big as
these," said the cat, putting his right forefoot into his ear and
taking out three balls--one yellow, one red, and one blue.

"They are very small," said the princess. "They are not much bigger
than peas, and the dwarfs will not be long at their work."

"Won't they," said the cat. "It will take them a month and a day to
make one, so that it will take three months and three days before the
balls are wound; but the giant, like you, will think they can be made
in a few days, and so he will readily promise to do what you ask. He
will soon find out his mistake, but he will keep his word, and will
not press you to marry him until the balls are wound."

"When will the giant come back?" asked Eileen.

"He will return to-morrow afternoon," said the cat.

"Will you stay with me until then?" said the princess. "I am very
lonely."

"I cannot stay," said the cat. "I have to go away to my palace on the
island on which no man ever placed his foot, and where no man but one
shall ever come."

"And where is that island?" asked the princess, "and who is the man?"

"The island is in the far-off seas where vessel never sailed; the man
you will see before many days are over; and if all goes well, he will
one day slay the giant Trencoss, and free you from his power."

"Ah!" sighed the princess, "that can never be, for no weapon can wound
the hundred hounds that guard the castle, and no sword can kill the
giant Trencoss."

"There is a sword that will kill him," said the cat; "but I must go
now. Remember what you are to say to the giant when he comes home,
and every morning watch the tree on which you saw me, and if you see
in the branches anyone you like better than yourself," said the cat,
winking at the princess, "throw him these three balls and leave the
rest to me; but take care not to speak a single word to him, for if
you do all will be lost."

"Shall I ever see you again?" asked the princess.

"Time will tell," answered the cat, and, without saying so much as
good-bye, he jumped through the window on to the tree, and in a second
was out of sight.

The morrow afternoon came, and the giant Trencoss returned from
battle. Eileen knew of his coming by the furious barking of the
h