So he went out, and the nurse with him.
Then the Princess told the apprentice in a very great hurry who she was.
‘It would never do,’ she said, ‘for him to see me home. He’d find out that I was the Princess, and he’d uglify me again in no time.’
‘He sha’n’t see you home,’ said James. ‘I may be stupid but I’m strong too.’
‘How brave you are,’ said Aura admiringly, ‘but I’d rather slip away quietly, without any fuss. Can’t you undo the patent lock of that door?’ The apprentice tried but he was too [p271 stupid, and the Princess was not strong enough.
‘I’m sorry,’ said the apprentice who was a Prince. ‘I can’t undo the door, but when he does I’ll hold him and you can get away. I dreamed of you this morning,’ he added.
‘I dreamed of you too,’ said she, ‘but you were different.’
‘Perhaps,’ said poor James sadly, ‘the person you dreamed about wasn’t stupid, and I am.’
‘Are you really?’ cried the Princess. ‘I am so glad!’
‘That’s rather unkind, isn’t it?’ said he.