“No matter,” she said; “you must not give up trying to deserve it. As you must take back a lovely maiden next time, I will find you one that will gain you the prize. Now let us take no more care about the matter.”
Nothing passes more quickly than days spent without trouble or care. If the White Cat had not taken pains to remember the time when he must return to the court, the Prince would have surely forgotten it. But one evening she told him that it depended on himself alone whether he would take to [[174]]the court one of the most beautiful Princesses in the world.
“To do this,” she said, “you must take your sword and cut off my head and tail and throw them quickly into the fire.”
“I!” he exclaimed; “I cut off your head and tail! My dear White Cat, my love, am I to do such a cruel deed? Ah! perhaps you are testing my affections, but you need not doubt me.”
But she begged and begged, telling him that he must trust her and do as she said. The tears came into his eyes at the thought of killing his dear White Cat, and he begged her to spare him. But she was determined, and at last with a trembling hand he drew his sword, cut off her head and tail, and threw them in the fire. Immediately the most charming change imaginable took place. The body of the White Cat grew tall and became that of the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
The Prince was so overwhelmed with astonishment and delight that he could not [[175]]speak. As he stood gazing at her, the door opened and a long train of lords and ladies entered the room, each with a cat’s skin thrown over the shoulder. They bowed low before the Queen and showed their great joy at seeing her once more restored to her natural state. She received them graciously, but after a few moments dismissed them, saying that she wished to be alone with the Prince. To him she explained that she was a Princess who had been turned into a cat by some angry fairies. All her lords and ladies had been turned into cats, too, and her servants had been made invisible, all but their hands. To free them from this enchantment a handsome young Prince must come and love her well enough to do her bidding.
Together they set out for the King’s court. Their chariot was more magnificent than any the Prince had ever seen. Even the horses’ shoes were of emerald with diamond nails. Since the Princess was as lovely as she appeared, the Prince loved her [[176]]more dearly than ever, and they had a most delightful journey together.
When they came near the palace the Princess stepped into a chair made of crystal, carried by her guards, and drew the silken curtains about her so that she could not be seen. The Prince remained in the chariot and soon met his brothers walking in the palace grounds with two very beautiful Princesses. They asked him if he, too, had found a Princess. He said that the most beautiful thing he had seen was a little white cat, and her he had brought. They laughed at his simplicity.
“A cat!” they said. “Are you afraid that our palace will be eaten up by mice?”
The elder brothers and their Princesses got into carriages of gold and azure; the horses were decked with plumes, and nothing could have been more brilliant than the cavalcade. Our young Prince followed, and then came the crystal chair at which every one looked with admiration. The courtiers hastened to tell the King that the three Princes had arrived. [[177]]