oroughly weary and disheartened.

However, something seemed to bid him enter the castle, so he pulled
the bell. Immediately the gateway flew open, and a number of beautiful
white hands appeared, and beckoned to him to cross the courtyard and
enter the great hall.

Here he found a splendid fire blazing, beside which stood a
comfortable arm-chair; the hands pointed invitingly towards it, and as
soon as the Prince had seated himself they proceeded to take off his
wet, muddy clothes, and dress him in a magnificent suit of silk and
velvet.

When he was ready, the hands led him into a brilliantly-lighted room,
in which was a table spread for supper. At the end of the room was a
raised platform, upon which a number of cats were seated, all playing
different musical instruments.

The Prince began to think he must be dreaming, when the door opened,
and a lovely little White Cat came in. She wore a long black veil, and
was accompanied by a number of cats, dressed in black, and carrying
swords.

She came straight up to the Prince, and in a sweet, sad little voice
bade him welcome. Then she ordered supper to be served, and the whole
company sat down together.

They were waited upon by the mysterious hands, but many of the
dishes were not to the Prince's liking. Stewed rats and mice may be a
first-rate meal for a cat, but the Prince did not feel inclined to try
them.

However, the White Cat ordered the hands to serve the Prince with the
dishes he liked best, and at once, without his even mentioning his
favorite food, he was supplied with every dainty he could think of.

After the Prince had satisfied his hunger, he noticed that the Cat
wore a bracelet upon her paw, in which was set a miniature of himself;
but when he questioned her about it, she sighed, and seemed so sad
that, like a well-behaved Prince, he said no more about the matter.

Soon after supper, the hands conducted him to bed, when he at once
fell fast asleep, and did not awaken until late the next morning.
On looking out of his window, he saw that the White Cat and her
attendants were about to start out on a hunting expedition.

As soon as the hands had dressed him in a hunting-suit of green, he
hurried down to join his hostess.

The hands led him up to a wooden horse, and seemed to expect him to
mount. At first the Prince was inclined to be angry, but the White Cat
told him so gently that she had no better steed to offer him, that he
at once mounted, fee