‘Because you wouldn’t.’
‘Why? Is he all torn to pieces by the Magi?’
‘Torn to pieces!—not he,’ laughed the Owl.
‘Oh! that is good news,’ said she quite joyfully. ‘Oh! do take me to him, dear Owl.’
‘Very well, Princess. But I warn you, you won’t be pleased with what you see.’ But the Princess was quite confident.
‘Oh yes, I shall, dear Owl—when shall we go?’
‘At once, if you like—the sooner the better.’
‘Oh! you dear Owl. I’ll go and get dressed at once.’
So she ran into her dressing-room and dressed herself in no time, without bothering to call up any of her ladies-in-waiting about it. Then she went back to the room where the Owl was waiting for her.
He was sitting on the floor near the fire, blinking quietly at the coals, and he did not at first notice her entry, so she said: