r?'

It was the only tune she knew, but that she could play with one
finger.

[Illustration: The Swineherd Takes the Ten Kisses]

'Why, that is what I play!' she said. 'He must be a most accomplished
Swineherd! Listen! Go down and ask him what the instrument costs.'

And one of the ladies-in-waiting had to go down; but she put on wooden
clogs. 'What will you take for the pot?' asked the lady-in-waiting.

'I will have ten kisses from the Princess,' answered the Swineherd.

'Heaven forbid!' said the lady-in-waiting.

'Yes, I will sell it for nothing less,' replied the Swineherd.

'Well, what does he say?' asked the Princess.

'I really hardly like to tell you,' answered the lady-in-waiting.

'Oh, then you can whisper it to me.'

'He is disobliging!' said the Princess, and went away. But she had
only gone a few steps when the bells rang out so prettily--

'Where is Augustus dear?
Alas! he's not here, here, here.'

'Listen!' said the Princess. 'Ask him whether he will take ten kisses
from my ladies-in-waiting.'

'No, thank you,' said the Swineherd. 'Ten kisses from the Princess, or
else I keep my pot.'

'That is very tiresome!' said the Princess. 'But you must put
yourselves in front of me, so that no one can see.'

And the ladies-in-waiting placed themselves in front and then spread
out their dresses; so the Swineherd got his ten kisses, and she got
the pot.

What happiness that was! The whole night and the whole day the pot was
made to boil; there was not a fire-place in the whole town where they
did not know what was being cooked, whether it was at the chancellor's
or at the shoemaker's.

The ladies-in-waiting danced and clapped their hands.

'We know who is going to have soup and pancakes; we know who is going
to have porridge and sausages--isn't it interesting?'

'Yes, very interesting!' said the first lady-in-waiting.

'But don't say anything about it, for I am the Emperor's daughter.'

'Oh, no, of course we won't!' said everyone.

The Swineherd--that is to say, the Prince (though they did not know he
was anything but a true Swineherd)--let no day pass without making
something, and one day he made a rattle which, when it was turned
round, played all the waltzes, galops, and polkas which had ever been
known since the world began.

'But that is _superbe!_' said the Princess as she passed by. 'I have
never heard a more beautiful composition. Listen! Go down and ask him
what this