"It is ridiculous that no one sees the Princess," thought the soldier. "I want to see her, and I shall."
He pulled out his tinder-box, struck a light, and lo! there stood the dog with eyes as large as saucers.
"It is the middle of the night," said the soldier, "but I must see the Princess, if it is only for a moment."
The dog bounded out of the door, and before the soldier had time to wonder what he would do or say if the beautiful Princess really appeared, there she was.
Yes, there she was, fast asleep on the dog's back. She was beautiful, so beautiful that the soldier was quite sure that she was a real Princess. He stooped and kissed her hand. She was so beautiful he could not help it. Then off ran the dog, back to the copper palace with the Princess.
"I had such a strange dream last night," the Princess told the King and Queen at breakfast next morning. "I dreamed that an enormous dog came and carried me off to a soldier, and the soldier kissed my hand. It was a strange dream," she murmured.
"The Princess must not be left alone to-night," said the Queen. "She may be frightened if she dreams again." And she told an old dame who lived at court to sit in the Princess's room at night.
But what would the Queen have said if she had known that what the Princess told them was no dream, but something that had really and truly happened?
Well, that evening the soldier thought he would like to see the Princess again.