were very
quiet and cosey old men, who disliked any kind of bustle or
disturbance, and wished that every thing might remain as they had
always known it. It even worried them a little to find that the
Princess was growing up. They would have much preferred that she
should remain exactly as she was when they first took charge of her.
Then they never would have been obliged to trouble their minds about
any changes in the manner of taking care of her. But they did not
worry their minds very much, after all. They wished to make her
guardianship as little laborious or exhausting as possible, and so,
divided the work; one of them took charge of her education, another
of her food and lodging, and the third of her dress. The first sent
for teachers, and told them to teach her; the second had handsome
apartments prepared for her use, and gave orders that she should have
every thing she needed to eat and drink; while the third commanded
that she should have a complete outfit of new clothes four times a
year. Thus every thing went on very quietly and smoothly; and the
three uncles were not obliged to exhaust themselves by hard work.
There were never any new houses built in that city, and if any thing
had to be repaired, it was done with as little noise and dirt as
possible. The city and the whole kingdom were quiet and serene, and
the three uncles dozed away most of the day in three great
comfortable thrones.

Everybody seemed satisfied with this state of things except the
Princess. She often thought to herself that nothing would be more
delightful than a little noise and motion, and she wondered if the
whole world were as quiet as the city in which she lived. At last,
she became unable to bear the dreadful stillness of the place any
longer; but she could think of nothing to do but to go and try to
find the Prince with whom she had eaten a philopena. If she should
win, he must marry her; and then, perhaps, they could settle down in
some place where things would be bright and lively. So, early one
morning, she put on her white dress, and mounting her prancing black
horse, she rode away from the city. Only one person saw her go, for
nearly all the people were asleep.

About this time, the Prince made up his mind that he could no longer
stand the din and confusion, the everlasting up-setting and
setting-up in his native city. He would go away, and see if he could
find the Princess with whom he had eaten a philopena. If he should
w