‘That’ll do,’ replied the prince; ‘take her, and let her be the henwife,[5] and let her have food and lodging, and all she wants.’
So they gave her a little hut on the borders of the forest, and set her to tend the poultry.
But the prince as he went out hunting often passed by her hut, and when she saw him pass she never failed to come out and salute him, and now and then he would stop his horse and spend a few moments in gossip with her.
Before long it was Carneval time; and as the prince came by Maria Wood came out and wished him a ‘good Carneval.’[6] The prince stopped his horse and said, his young head full of the pleasure he expected,
‘To-morrow, you know, we have the first day of the feast.’
‘To be sure I know it; and how I should like to be there: won’t you take me?’ answered Maria Wood.
‘You shameless old woman,’ replied the prince, ‘to think of your wanting to go to a festino[7] at your time of life!’ and he gave her a cut with his whip.
The next day Maria put on her dress of the colour of the noontide sky, covered with stars like the sky at midnight, with the parure made to wear with it, and came to the feast. Every lady made place before her dazzling appearance, and the prince alone dared to ask her to dance. With her he danced all the evening, and fairly fell in love with her,[8] nor could he leave her side; and as they sat together, he took the ring off his own finger and put it on to her hand. She appeared equally satisfied with his attentions, and seemed to desire no other partner. Only when he tried to gather from her whence she was, she would only say she came from the country of Whipblow,[9] which set the prince wondering very much, as he had never heard of such a country. At the end of the ball, the prince sent his attendants to watch her that he might learn where she lived, but she disappeared so swiftly it was impossible for them to tell what had become of her.
When the prince came by Maria Wood’s hut next day, she did not fail to wish him again a ‘good Carneval.’
‘To-morrow we have the second festino, you know,’ said the prince.