myself."

"How tiresome! That must not be either!" said the princess; "but do you
all stand before me, that no one may see us."

The court ladies placed themselves in front of her, and spread out their
dresses. So the swineherd got ten kisses, and the princess got the
saucepan.

That was delightful! The saucepan was kept boiling all the evening and
the whole of the following day. They knew perfectly well what was
cooking on every hearth in the city, from the chamberlain's to the
cobbler's. The court ladies danced and clapped their hands.

"We know who has soup, and who has pancakes for dinner to-day; who has
cutlets, and who has eggs. How interesting!"

"Yes, but keep my secret, for I am an emperor's daughter."

The prince--that is, the swineherd, for no one knew that he was other
than an ill-favored swineherd--let not a day pass without working at
something. At last he constructed a rattle, which, when it was swung
round and round, played all the waltzes and jig tunes which have been
heard since the creation of the world.

"Ah, that is _superbe_!" said the princess, when she passed by. "I have
never heard prettier compositions. Go in and ask him the price of the
instrument. But mind, he shall have no more kisses."

"He will have a hundred kisses from the princess," said the lady who had
been to ask.

"He is not in his right senses," said the princess, and walked on. But
when she had gone a little way she stopped again. "One must encourage
art," said she; "I am the emperor's daughter. Tell him he shall, as on
yesterday, have ten kisses from me, and may take the rest from the
ladies of the court."

"Oh, but we should not like that at all," said the ladies.

"What are you muttering?" asked the princess. "If I can kiss him, surely
you can! Remember I give you food and wages."

"A hundred kisses from the princess," said he, "or else let every one
keep his own."

"Stand round," said she, and all the ladies stood round as before.

"What can be the reason for such a crowd close by the pigsty?" asked the
emperor, who happened just then to step out on the balcony. He rubbed
his eyes and put on his spectacles.

"They are the ladies of the court. I must go and see what they are
about." So he pulled up his slippers at the heel, for he had trodden
them down.

As soon as he had got into the courtyard he moved very softly, and the
ladies were so much engrossed with counting the kisses that they did not
perceive t