er was quite smooth and bare. Then they
changed themselves into three silver citrons and rolled about this way
and that, all over the room.

The Prince was terribly distressed that the girls had changed into
citrons, for they were so lovely that he would have been glad to have
any one of them for a wife.

However, he took up the citrons and hid them in his bosom, and then,
as there seemed nothing better to do, he set out for home again, for
after having seen three such beauties as that he would never be
satisfied with any one else.

After a while as he journeyed he came to the wood where he had seen
the old crone before, and there she was, waiting for him.

"Well, and did you get what you set out to search for?" she asked.

"I did and I didn't," answered the Prince;--and then he told her the
whole story and showed her the three citrons that he still carried in
his bosom. "They are three beauties, I can tell you," said he, "but of
what use are they as long as they remain as citrons?"

"I may be able to help you again," said the old hag. She then gave him a
silver knife and a little golden cup. "Keep the citrons until you come
to a running stream. Then take one,--whichever one you please,--and cut
it open with this knife. At once one of the Princesses will appear. She
will ask you for a drink of water. Give it to her immediately in this
golden cup, and after that she will remain with you and you can have her
for your wife."

The Prince was delighted. He took the knife and cup and thanked the
old woman gratefully, and then she again disappeared in the shadow of
the forest.

The Prince journeyed on until he came to a running stream, and it was
not so very far from his father's palace. Then he got out the knife
and the cup and one of the citrons. He cut the citron, and at once one
of the Princesses appeared before him. If she had looked a beauty when
he saw her in the mountain she was ten times lovelier, now that he saw
her in the light of day. The Prince could only gape and gape at her.

"Give me a cup of water to drink," demanded the Princess; but the
Prince was so busy staring at her that he did not move, and in a
moment the Princess vanished from before him, and where she went he
could not tell. He was filled with grief over the loss of her, but she
was gone, and that was all of it.

Then the Prince took out the second citron. "This time I will be ready
for her," he thought. He took his knife and cut the seco