So when night came, and the hall in the castle was full of light and
music, and the lords and ladies were dancing before the King, just as
the clock struck twelve, Tattercoats and the herdboy, followed by his
flock of noisy geese, entered at the great doors, and walked straight up
the ball-room, while on either side the ladies whispered, the lords
laughed, and the King seated at the far end stared in amazement.
But as they came in front of the throne, Tattercoats' lover rose from
beside the King, and came to meet her. Taking her by the hand, he kissed
her thrice before them all, and turned to the King.
[Illustration: TATTERCOATS.]
"Father!" he said, for it was the Prince himself, "I have made my
choice, and here is my bride, the loveliest girl in all the land, and
the sweetest as well!"
Before he had finished speaking, the herdboy put his pipe to his lips
and played a few low notes that sounded like a bird singing far off in
the woods; and as he played, Tattercoats' rags were changed to shining
robes sewn with glittering jewels, a golden crown lay upon her golden
hair, and the flock of geese behind her, became a crowd of dainty pages,
bearing her long train.
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