‘Nonsense! how can a cup of broth, or how can any medicament, help me!’ exclaimed the prince. ‘There is no cure for my ailment.’
Again Maria Wood sent the same message; but the prince said angrily,
‘Tell the silly old thing to hold her tongue; she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.’
But again, the third time, Maria Wood sent to him, saying, ‘Let the prince but take a cup of broth of my making, and he will immediately be healed.’
By this time the prince was so weary that he did not take the trouble to refuse. The servants finding him so depressed began to fear that he was sinking, and they called to Maria Wood to make her broth, because, though they had little faith in her promise, they knew not what else to try. So Maria Wood made ready the cup of broth she had promised, and they put it down beside the prince.
Presently the whole palace was roused; the prince had started up in bed, and was shouting,
‘Bring hither Maria Wood! Quick! Bring hither Maria Wood!’
So they ran and fetched Maria Wood, wondering what could have happened to bring about so great a change in the prince. But the truth was, that Maria had put into the cup of broth the ring the prince had put on her finger the first night of the feast, and when he began to take the broth he found the ring with the spoon. When he saw the ring, he knew at once that Maria Wood could tell where to find his fair partner.
‘Wait a bit! there’s plenty of time!’ said Maria, when the servant came to fetch her in all haste; and she waited to put on her dress of the colour of the noontide sky.
The prince was beside himself for joy when he saw her, and would have the betrothal celebrated that very day.