“This is very strange. The tree is yours, and yet you cannot pluck the fruit.”
They kept on saying that the tree was theirs, but while they were saying this, Little Two Eyes rolled a few of the apples out from under the cask. The Prince saw them, and asked:—
“Why! where did these golden apples come from? Who is under the cask?” Little One Eye and Little Three Eyes told the Prince that they had a sister.
“But she does not show herself,” they said. “She is just like other people. She has two eyes.” Then the Prince called:—
“Little Two Eyes! come out!” So Little Two Eyes was very glad and crept out from under the cask.
“Can you get me a branch from the tree?”
“Yes,” said Little Two Eyes, “I can, for the tree is mine.” Then she climbed the tree and broke off a branch. It had silver leaves and golden fruit, and she gave it to the Prince. Then the Prince said:—
“Little Two Eyes, what shall I give you for it?”
“Oh,” said Little Two Eyes, “I suffer hunger and thirst all day long. If you would take me with you, I should be happy.”
So the Prince lifted Little Two Eyes upon his horse, and they rode away. He took her to his father’s house and made her Princess, and she had plenty to eat and drink and good clothes to wear. Best of all, the Prince loved her, and she had no more hard knocks and cross words.