"I hear horses' feet behind us," said Hyacinthia a third time; and this time it was the magician himself. Hyacinthia took the little cross from the neck of the Prince, and changed herself into a church, the Prince into a monk, and the horse into the belfry; so that when the magician came up he lost all trace of them, and was obliged to return to the Underworld in great chagrin.
When he had departed, the Prince and Hyacinthia mounted the horse and rode till they came to a beautiful town.
"We must not enter," said she, "for we may not come out again." But the Prince would not take her advice, and insisted upon passing through the gates.
"Then," sadly replied the maiden, "when the King and Queen of the town come out to meet you, do not kiss the little child which they will lead by the hand, or you will forget me [page 492] and never come back. As for me, I will become a milestone and wait for you here."
It was all as Hyacinthia had said. The King and Queen came out to greet him, and when the lovely little child ran up to him for a caress, he kissed its pretty face and forgot Hyacinthia.
The first and second day went by; and when the third day came, Hyacinthia wept, and became a little blue flower growing by the roadside. An old man came along, and digging up the flower carried it home with him and planted it in his garden. He watered and tended it carefully, and one day the little flower became a beautiful maiden.
"Why did you not leave me to die by the roadside?" she asked, and told the old man her story.
"To-morrow is Prince Milan's wedding day," said the old man.
Hyacinthia at once dried her tears, and presented herself at the palace, dressed like a peasant. She went to the cook and asked to be allowed to make the wedding cake. The cook was so struck with her beauty that he could not refuse the request. When the guests were all seated about the table, Prince Milan was called upon to cut the cake. As soon as he had done so, out flew two beautiful doves, which circled about his head.
"Dear mate," cried one of the doves, "do not leave me as Prince Milan left Hyacinthia."