once! It would be better than to remain a Hind
all the days of my life! What a fate! Only to be myself to you, and to
all others a little White Hind! How terrible never to be able to talk to
my Prince!'

Becafigue put his eye to the chink and this is what he saw.

There was the Princess in a beautiful dress all shining with gold. In
her lovely hair were diamonds, but the tears in her eyes seemed to
sparkle even more brightly. She was beautiful beyond words, and
disconsolate beyond sorrow.

Becafigue nearly cried out with joy at sight of her. He ran off at once
and told the Prince.

'Ah! seigneur,' said he, 'come with me at once and you will see in the
flesh the maiden you love.'

The Prince ran with him, and when they came on tip-toe to the chink in
the wall, he looked and saw his dear Princess.

Then so great was his joy that he could not be restrained. He went and
knocked at the door, resolving to see his Princess at once.

Giroflee, thinking it was the old woman, opened the door, and the Prince
immediately dashed into the room and threw himself at the feet of the
Princess, and kissed her hand and told her how much he loved her.

'What! my dear little Princess, was it you that I wounded as a little
Hind? What can I do to show my sorrow for so great a crime?'

The way in which he spoke put all the doubts from the Princess's mind.
The Prince, knowing all, loved her. She bade him rise, and then stood
with downcast eyes, fearing the worst. Her fears were justified: in a
moment his arms were around her, and she was sobbing for joy on his
breast.

They had stood a moment so, when suddenly the Prince started and
listened. What sound was that? It was the tramp of armed men; nearer and
nearer it came--the threatening sound of an advancing host. He opened
the window, and, on looking out, saw a great army approaching. They were
his own soldiers, going up against Desiree's father to avenge the insult
offered to their Prince. And the King his father was at their head, in a
litter of gold.

When the Warrior Prince saw that his father was there he ran out to him
and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him.

'Where have you been, my son?' said the King. 'Your absence has caused
me great sorrow!'

Then the Prince told him all about Long-Epine, and how the Princess had
been changed into a Hind through her disregard of the Fairy's warning.

The King was terribly grieved at this news, and turned his eyes to
heaven