“Yes,” said the gardener, “you’ve good reason to fear any such thing, you who are so handsome.”
“Well, well,” said the lad, “since it’s her will, I suppose I must go.”
So, when he was to go up the steps in the evening, he tramped and stamped so on the way, that they had to beg him to tread softly lest the King should come to know it. So he came into the Princess’ bedroom, lay down, and began to snore at once. Then the Princess said to her maid:
“Go gently, and just pull his wig off;” and she went up to him.
But just as she was going to whisk it off, he caught hold of it with both hands, and said she should never 160 have it. After that he lay down again, and began to snore. Then the Princess gave her maid a wink, and this time she whisked off the wig; and there lay the lad so lovely, and white and red, just as the Princess had seen him in the morning sun.
And this time she whisked off the wig; and there lay the lad, so lovely, and white and red, just as the Princess had seen him in the morning sun.
After that the lad slept every night in the Princess’ bedroom.