weet flowers, and
velvet lawns all cool and shady, which pleased the eye of the
princess. The fruit trees were hung with golden and rosy apples, and
nightingales sang in every bush, as the gnome and the princess
wandered in the leafy alleys, sometimes gazing at the moon, sometimes
pausing to gather the rarest flowers for her adornment. And all the
time he was thinking to himself that never, during the hundreds of
years he had lived, had he seen so charming a maiden. But the princess
felt no such happiness; in spite of all the magic delights around her
she was sad, though she tried to seem content for fear of displeasing
the gnome. However, he soon perceived her melancholy, and in a
thousand ways strove to dispel the cloud, but in vain. At last he said
to himself: 'Men are sociable creatures, like bees or ants. Doubtless
this lovely mortal is pining for company. Who is there I can find for
her to talk to?'

Thereupon he hastened into the nearest field and dug up a dozen or so
of different roots--carrots, turnips, and radishes--and laying them
carefully in an elegant basket brought them to the princess, who sat
pensive in the shade of the rose-bower.

'Loveliest daughter of earth,' said the gnome, 'banish all sorrow; no
more shall you be lonely in my dwelling. In this basket is all you
need to make this spot delightful to you. Take this little
many-coloured wand, and with a touch give to each root the form you
desire to see.'

With this he left her, and the princess, without an instant's delay,
opened the basket, and touching a turnip, cried eagerly: 'Brunhilda,
my dear Brunhilda! come to me quickly!' And sure enough there was
Brunhilda, joyfully hugging and kissing her beloved princess, and
chattering as gaily as in the old days.

[Illustration: RUeBEZAHL AND THE PRINCESS]

This sudden appearance was so delightful that the princess could
hardly believe her own eyes, and was quite beside herself with the joy
of having her dear playfellow with her once more. Hand in hand they
wandered about the enchanted garden, and gathered the golden apples
from the trees, and when they were tired of this amusement the
princess led her friend through all the wonderful rooms of the
palace, until at last they came to the one in which were kept all the
marvellous dresses and ornaments the gnome had given to his hoped-for
bride. There they found so much to amuse them that the hours passed
like minutes. Veils, girdles, and necklaces