The prince sat down in a corner, thinking and thinking, until he heard close to his ear a sound like "purr, purr!" He looked around, and there before him was the little white cat.
"I ought not to come to you," said the cat; "but, indeed, it is not for your sake I come. I come for the sake of the Princess Eileen. Of course, you forgot all about her, and, of course, she is always thinking of you. It's always the way—
"'Favored lovers may forget,
Slighted lovers never yet.'"
The prince blushed with shame when he heard the name of the princess.
"'Tis you that ought to blush," said the cat; "but listen to me now, and remember, if you don't obey my directions this time you'll never see me again, and you'll never set your eyes on the Princess Eileen. When the old giantess comes back tell her you wish, when the morning comes, to go down to the sea to look at it for the last time. When you reach the sea you will know what to do. But I must go now, as I hear the giantess coming." And the cat jumped out of the window and disappeared.
"Well," said the giantess, when she came in, "is there anything you wish?"
"Is it true I must die to-morrow?" asked the prince.
"It is."
"Then," said he, "I should like to go down to the sea to look at it for the last time."