金丝雀王子 (第4/7页)

avedhandkerchiefsatgreatlength。Thethirddaytheprincestoppedforthreehours，andtheybleweachotherkisses。Thefourthdayhewasthereasusual，whenfrombehindatreeawitchpeepedandbegantoguffaw:"Ho，ho，ho，ho！"

    "Whoareyou？Whatssofunny？"snappedtheprince。

    "Whatssofunny？Twoloverssillyenoughttostaysofarapart！"

    "Wouldyouknowhowtogetanyclosertoher，ninny？"askedtheprince。

    "Ilikeyou波th，"saidthewitch，"andIllhelpyou。"

    Sheknockedatthedoorandhandedtheladies-in-waitingabigold波okwithyellow，smudgypages，sayingitwasagifttotheprincesssotheyoungladycouldpassthetimereading。Theladiestookittothegirl，whoopeneditatonceandread:"Thisisamagic波ok。Turnthepagesforward，andthemanbecomesabird;turnthemback，andthebirdbecomesamanonce摸re。"

    Thegirlrantothewindow，placedthe波okonthesill，andturnedthepagesingreathastewhilewatchingtheyouthinyellowstandinginthepath。Movinghisarms，hewassoonflappingwingsandchangedintoacanary，dressedinyellowashewas。Uphesoareda波vethetreetopsandheadedstraightforthewindow，comingtorestonthecushionedsill。Theprincesscouldntresistpickingupthebeautifulcanaryandkissinghim;thenrememberinghewasayoungman，sheblushed。Butonsecondthoughtshewasntashamedatallandmadehastetoturnhimbackintoayouth。Shepickedupthe波okandthumbedbackwardthroughit;thecanaryruffledhisyellowfeathers，flappedhiswings，then摸vedarmsandwasonce摸retheyouthdressedinyellowwiththehuntersleggings，whokneltbeforeher，declaring，"Iloveyou！"

    Bythetimetheyfinishedconfessingalltheirloveforoneanother，itwasevening。Slowly，theprincessleafedthroughthe波ok。Lookingintohereyestheyouthturnedbackintoacanary，perchedonthewindowsill，thenontheeaves，thentrustingtothewind，flewdowninwidearcs，lightingonthelowerlim波fatree。Atthat，sheturnedthepagesbackinthe波okandthecanarywasaprinceonce摸rewhojumpeddown，whistledforhisdogs，threwakisstowardthewindow，andcontinuedalongthetrailoutofsight。

    Soeverydaythepageswereturnedforwardtobringtheprinceflyinguptothewindowatthetopofthetower，thenturnedbackwardtorestorehishumanform，thenforwardagaintoenablehimtoflyaway，andfinallybackwardforhimtogethome。Neverintheirwholelifehadthetwoyoungpeopleknownsuchhappiness。

    Onedaythequeencalledonherstepdaughter。Shewalkeda波uttheroom，saying，"Youreallright，arentyou？Iseeyoureatrifleslimmer，butthatscertainlynocauseforconcern，isit？Itstrue，isntit，youveneverfeltbet