‘You love me!’ she said, with her lips parted and the colour coming and going in her cheeks. ‘Why, whatever made you?’
And the Prince answered naturally:
‘Why, you did, of course.’
‘But you’ve not known me for more than two days.’
‘If I had known you only for two hours it would have been more than enough. You are the most beautiful girl I ever saw.’
‘Perhaps you’ve not seen many,’ said the Princess.
He took no notice of her flippant remark—he was very much in earnest.
‘I love you as much as the whole world, and a great deal besides. And don’t you love me a little in return?’
‘Well, to tell the truth, I never thought of it at all before; but now I come to think of it I do love you, and a very great deal too—if you don’t tease.’