She began to wring her hands and look for some way to get out, but the cats were all around her.
In the midst of the noise and fuss, in came the cat with the crown and collar. Two little white kittens were holding up her tail; and another one held a silver waiter, with the rose lying on it. A large black cat brought up the rear with the velvet cushion.
“What is the matter?” asked the queen cat.
Then all the cats began to point at Tina, and to talk at once.
She stood there crying, hardly knowing what to do, when a thought struck her, and she ran forward and snatched the rose from the silver waiter.
In an instant she was standing outside of the stone castle.
“Now, where am I to go?” said she. “I would like to get away from here as fast as I can. I am afraid the cats will come after me.”
She looked around, and saw a stable. “I wonder if there is a horse in there?” she said. “I might get on his back, if there is, and get away.”
She went up to the door, and touched it with the rose, but it did not open.