As for the rest
of the household, they could not have made up a single tear amongst
them. They thought, whatever it might be for the princess, it was,
for every one else, the best thing that could have happened; and as
to what had become of her, if their heads were puzzled, their hearts
took no interest in the question. The lord-chancellor alone had an
idea about it, but he was far too wise to utter it.
II.
The fact, as is plain, was, that the princess had disappeared in the
folds of the wise woman's cloak. When she rushed from the room, the
wise woman caught her to her bosom and flung the black garment
around her. The princess struggled wildly, for she was in fierce
terror, and screamed as loud as choking fright would permit her; but
her father, standing in the door, and looking down upon the wise
woman, saw never a movement of the cloak, so tight was she held by
her captor. He was indeed aware of a most angry crying, which
reminded him of his daughter; but it sounded to him so far away,
that he took it for the passion of some child in the street, outside
the palace-gates.
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