“‘And to-morrow,’ said the old woman, ’you must smarten yourself up as well as you can, and then we shall go out to see the gay doings.’

“But the Princess lay awake all night thinking what she should do to make herself known to her faithful Prince.

“The next day the old woman went out early to hear all about the festivities.  She came back greatly excited.

“‘Come quickly,’ she said.  ’The crowd is so great that no one will notice your poor clothes.  And, indeed, among all the pretty girls there will be none prettier than you,’ she added, looking admiringly at the Princess, who had arranged her beautiful hair and brushed her soiled dress, and who looked sweeter than ever now that she was rested and refreshed.  ‘There are three princesses who have come to the feast,’ she went on, ’the first from the south, the second from the east, the third from the west, each more beautiful than another, the people say.  The trial of the golden balls is to be in the great hall of the palace, and a friend of mine has promised me a place at one of the windows which overlook it, so that we can see the whole;’ and the Princess, feeling as if she were in a dream, rose up to accompany the old woman, her balls and her precious nut in her pocket.

“They made their way through the crowd and placed themselves at the window, as the old woman had said.  The Princess looked down at the great hall below, all magnificently decorated and already filled with spectators.  Suddenly the trumpet sounded, and the Prince in whose honour was all the rejoicing entered.  At sight of him—­her own Prince indeed, but looking so strangely pale and sad that she would hardly have recognised him—­the Princess could not restrain a little cry.

“‘What is it?’ said the old woman.

“‘A passer-by trod on my foot,’ said the Princess, fearful of attracting attention.  And the old woman said no more, for at this moment another blast of trumpets announced the arrival of the princesses, who were to make the trial of the balls.  The first was tall and dark, with raven tresses and brilliant, flashing eyes.  She was dressed in a robe of rich maize colour, and as she took her place on the dais she looked round her, as if to say, ‘Who can compete with me in beauty or in skill?’ And she was the Princess of the south.

“The second was also tall, and her hair was of a deep rich brown, and her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks rosy.  She was dressed in bright pink, and laughed as she came forward, as if sure of herself and her attractions.  And she was the Princess of the east.

“The third moved slowly, and as if she cared little what was thought of her, so confident was she of her pre-eminence.  She wore a blue robe, and her face was pale and her eyes cold, though beautiful.  And her hair had a reddish tinge, but yet she too was beautiful.  And she was the Princess of the west.

“The Prince bowed low to each, but no smile lit up his grave face, and his glance rested but an instant on each fair Princess as she approached.