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〃I am sorry I can't return the compliment；〃 thought the prince； 〃but
you are worth dying for； after all。〃
Again a wavelet； and another； and another flowed over the stone； and
wetted both the prince's knees； but he did not speak or move。 Twothree
four hours passed in this way； the princess apparently asleep； and the
prince very patient。 But he was much disappointed in his position； for he
had none of the consolation he had hoped for。
At last he could bear it no longer。
〃Princess！〃 said he。
But at the moment up started the princess； crying；
〃I'm afloat！ I'm afloat！〃
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And the little boat bumped against the stone。
〃Princess！〃 repeated the prince； encouraged by seeing her wide awake
and looking eagerly at the water。
〃Well？〃 said she； without looking round。
〃Your papa promised that you should look at me； and you haven't
looked at me once。〃
〃Did he？ Then I suppose I must。 But I am so sleepy！〃
〃Sleep then； darling； and don't mind me；〃 said the poor prince。
〃Really； you are very good；〃 replied the princess。 〃I think I will go to
sleep again。〃
〃Just give me a glass of wine and a biscuit first；〃 said the prince； very
humbly。
〃With all my heart；〃 said the princess； and gaped as she said it。
She got the wine and the biscuit； however； and leaning over the side of
the boat towards him； was compelled to look at him。
〃Why； prince；〃 she said； 〃you don't look well！ Are you sure you don't
mind it？〃 〃Not a bit；〃 answered he； feeling very faint in deed。 〃Only I
shall die before it is of any use to you； unless I have something to eat。〃
〃There； then；〃 said she； holding out the wine to him。
〃Ah！ you must feed me。 I dare not move my hands。 The water
would run away directly。〃
〃Good gracious！〃 said the princess； and she began at once to feed him
with bits of biscuit and sips of wine。
As she fed him； he contrived to kiss the tips of her fingers now and
then。 She did not seem to mind it； one way or the other。 But the prince
felt better。
〃Now for your own sake； princess；〃 said he； 〃I cannot let you go to
sleep。 You must sit and look at me； else I shall not be able to keep up。〃
〃Well； I will do anything I can to oblige you；〃 answered she； with
condescension； and； sitting down； she did look at him； and kept looking at
him with wonderful steadiness； considering all things。
The sun went down； and the moon rose； and； gush after gush； the
waters were rising up the prince's body。 They were up to his waist now。
〃Why can't we go and have a swim？〃 said the princess。 〃There seems
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to be water enough Just about here。〃
〃I shall never swim more；〃 said the prince。
〃Oh； I forgot；〃 said the princess； and was silent。
So the water grew and grew； and rose up and up on the prince。 And
the princess sat and looked at him。 She fed him now and then。 The
night wore on。 The waters rose and rose。 The moon rose likewise
higher and higher； and shone full on the face of the dying prince。 The
water was up to his neck。
〃Will you kiss me； princess？〃 said he； feebly。
The nonchalance was all gone now。
〃Yes； I will；〃 answered the princess； and kissed him with a long； sweet；
cold kiss。
〃Now；〃 said he； with a sigh of content； 〃I die happy。〃
He did not speak again。 The princess gave him some wine for the
last time： he was past eating。 Then she sat down again； and looked at
him。 The water rose and rose。 It touched his chin。 It touched his
lower lip。 It touched between his lips。 He shut them hard to keep it out。
The princess began to feel strange。 It touched his upper lip。 He
breathed through his nostrils。 The princess looked wild。 It covered his
nostrils。 Her eyes looked scared； and shone strange in the moonlight。
His head fell back； the water closed over it； and the bubbles of his last
breath bubbled up through the water。 The princess gave a shriek； and
sprang into the lake。
She laid hold first of one leg； and then of the other； and pulled and
tugged； but she could not move either。 She stopped to take breath； and
that made her think that HE could not get any breath。 She was frantic。
She got hold of him； and held his head above the water； which was
possible now his hands were no longer on the hole。 But it was of no use；
for he was past breathing。
Love and water brought back all her strength。 She got under the
water； and pulled and pulled with her whole might； till at last she got one
leg out。 The other easily followed。 How she got him into the boat she
never could tell； but when she did； she fainted away。 Coming to herself；
she seized the oars； kept herself steady as best she could； and rowed and
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rowed； though she had never rowed before。 Round rocks； and over
shallows； and through mud she rowed； till she got to the landing… stairs of
the palace。 By this time her people were on the shore； for they had heard
her shriek。 She made them carry the prince to her own room； and lay
him in her bed； and light a fire； and send for the doctors。
〃But the lake； your Highness！〃 said the chamberlain； who； roused by
the noise； came in； in his nightcap。
〃Go and drown yourself in it！〃 she said。
This was the last rudeness of which the princess was ever guilty； and
one must allow that she had good cause to feel provoked with the lord
chamberlain。
Had it been the king himself； he would have fared no better。 But both
he and the queen were fast asleep。 And the chamberlain went back to his
bed。 Somehow； the doctors never came。 So the princess and her old
nurse were left with the