She then took several of the finest looking ones, and tied them by the stems with a riband that confined her hair, and handed them to the King.
“Thank my little daughter,” said the King. “Now go thy way, and this man shall attend thee; but do exactly as he desires.”
The old man with the grey beard waited in readiness for her, and when Delphine had taken leave of the King, he led her into the garden, tied a handkerchief about her eyes, whistled, and at the same instant took her by the arm.
She heard the rustling of wings, she felt the wind blow colder and colder, in her face, but was not conscious of moving, nor could she see anything.
At last the sound of wings ceased, and the old man set her upon the ground. “Now, my child, count twenty, and then remove the bandage and preserve it carefully; it will be required of thee at the proper time.”
As soon as the bandage was removed, she found herself standing on the hill, opposite the house of her friend, Hilda. Then she hastened to her friend, who was still in bed repeating the words, “Who will bring me strawberries to make me well?”
“There they are, dear Hilda,” said Delphine, handing her a bright red bunch. Every one was astonished, and anxious to know from whence she had brought them. But she had barely begun to relate her wonderful adventures, before Hilda had eaten all the strawberries. Then the color returned to her face, and strength to her limbs; and Hilda said, “Thank the Lord, and dear Delphine, now I am quite well!” And she rose from her bed, quite restored.
Who can tell how the parents thanked and blessed Delphine—the good, kind-hearted Delphine, whom every one praised and blessed—for her self-sacrificing benevolence and love?
One day, when Delphine was walking in the meadows with her mother, some years after this, and was looking up into the sky, she saw a black speck, which, as it descended, grew larger and larger; and as it came towards her, she saw that it was a prodigious black swan. It had on its back a tent, with golden gauze curtains, and when it alighted upon the ground where Delphine was standing, there came out of the tent a little man, with friendly eyes, who thus addressed her, “I am the King of the Swans. I have heard that you will, in a short time, celebrate a joyful festival; and as thou gavest me a present when a child, and hast grown up so good, brave, and pure a maiden, I will make thee a present in return.” Saying these words, he put upon her head a costly crown. It was made of gold, garnished with strawberry leaves; and between the leaves there sparkled red rubies, diamonds, and purple amethysts; round the rim was a beautiful gold band.
Delphine and her mother could hardly thank the King, for astonishment. But he did not give them time, for the swan rose majestically in the air, and soon became as a little black spot in the midst of the bright clouds.