The
hopelessness grew at length so unendurable that she woke with a
start. Seeing the face of the wise woman bending over her, she threw
her arms around her neck and held up her mouth to be kissed. And the
kiss of the wise woman was like the rose-gardens of Damascus.
IV.
The wise woman lifted her tenderly, and washed and dressed her far
more carefully than even her nurse. Then she set her down by the
fire, and prepared her breakfast. The princess was very hungry, and
the bread and milk as good as it could be, so that she thought she
had never in her life eaten any thing nicer. Nevertheless, as soon
as she began to have enough, she said to herself,--
"Ha! I see how it is! The old woman wants to fatten me! That is why
she gives me such nice creamy milk. She doesn't kill me now because
she's going to kill me then! She IS an ogress, after all!"
Thereupon she laid down her spoon, and would not eat another
mouthful--only followed the basin with longing looks, as the wise
woman carried it away.
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