`If I could but get up into the turret,' she thought, `to see if any one is coming.' But to climb up there seemed impossible.Nevertheless she presently hit upon a plan.The great clock was in the turret, as she knew, though the weights hung down into the gallery.
Taking one of them off the rope, she tied herself on in its place, and when the clock was wound, up she went triumphantly into the turret.She looked out over the country the first thing, but seeing nothing she sat down to rest a little, and accidentally leant back against the wall which Curlicue, or rather Prince Peerless, had so hastily mended.Out fell the broken stone, and with it the golden key.The clatter it made upon the floor attracted the Princess Cabbage-Stalk's attention.
She picked it up, and after a moment's consideration decided that it must belong to the curious old cabinet in the corner, which had no visible keyhole.And then it was not long before she had it open, and was admiring the treasures it contained as much as Prince Peerless had done before her, and at last she came to the carbuncle box.No sooner had she opened it than with a shudder of horror she tried to throw it down, but found that some mysterious power compelled her to hold it against her will.And at this moment a voice in her ear said softly:
`Take courage, Princess; upon this adventure your future happiness depends.'
`What am I to do?' said the Princess trembling.
`Take the box,' replied the voice, `and hide it under your pillow, and when you see an Eagle, give it to him without losing a moment.'
Terrified as the Princess was, she did not hesitate to obey, and hastened to put back all the other precious things precisely as she had found them.By this time her guards were seeking her everywhere, and they were amazed to find her up in the turret, for they said she could only have got there by magic.For three days nothing happened, but at last in the night the Princess heard something flutter against her window, and drawing back her curtains she saw in the moonlight that it was an Eagle.
Limping across at her utmost speed she threw the window open, and the great Eagle sailed in beating with his wings for joy.The Princess lost no time in offering it the carbuncle box, which it grasped in its talons, and instantly disappeared, leaving in its place the most beautiful Prince she had ever seen, who was splendidly dressed, and wore a diamond crown.
`Princess,' said he, `for two hundred years has a wicked enchanter kept me here.We both loved the same Fairy, but she pre-ferred me.However, he was more powerful than I, and succeeded, when for a moment I was off my guard, in changing me into an Eagle, while my Queen was left in an enchanted sleep.I knew that after two hundred years a Prince would recall her to the light of day, and a Princess, in restoring to me the hand which my enemy had cut off, would give me back my natural form.The Fairy who watches over your destiny told me this, and it was she who guided you to the cabinet in the turret, where she had placed my hand.It is she also who permits me to show my gratitude to you by granting whatever favour you may ask of me.Tell me, Princess, what is it that you wish for most? Shall I make you as beautiful as you deserve to be?'
`Ah, if you only would!' cried the Princess, and at the same moment she heard a crick-cracking in all her bones.She grew tall and straight and pretty, with eyes like shining stars, and a skin as white as milk.
`Oh, wonderful! can this really be my poor little self?' she exclaimed, looking down in amazement at her tiny worn-out crutch as it lay upon the floor.
`Indeed, Princess,' replied Florimond, `it is yourself, but you must have a new name, since the old one does not suit you now.
Be called Princess Sunbeam, for you are bright and charming enough to deserve the name.'
And so saying he disappeared, and the Princess, without knowing how she got there, found herself walking under shady trees by a clear river.Of course, the first thing she did was to look at her own reflection in the water, and she was extremely surprised to find that she was exactly like the shepherdess she had so much admired, and wore the same white dress and flowery wreath that she had seen in the painted windows.To complete the resemblance, her flock of sheep appeared, grazing round her, and she found a gay crook adorned with flowers upon the bank of the river.Quite tired out by so many new and wonderful experiences, the Princess sat down to rest at the foot of a tree, and there she fell fast asleep.Now it happened that it was in this very country that Prince Peerless had been set down, and while the Princess Sunbeam was still sleeping peacefully, he came strolling along in search of a shady pasture for his sheep.
The moment he caught sight of the Princess he recognised her as the charming shepherdess whose picture he had seen so often in the tower, and as she was far prettier than he had remembered her, he was delighted that chance had led him that way.
He was still watching her admiringly when the Princess opened her eyes, and as she also recognised him they were soon great friends.The Princess asked Prince Peerless, as he knew the country better than she did, to tell her of some peasant who would give her a lodging, and he said he knew of an old woman whose cottage would be the very place for her, it was so nice and so pretty.So they went there together, and the Princess was charmed with the old woman and everything belonging to her.Supper was soon spread for her under a shady tree, and she invited the Prince to share the cream and brown bread which the old woman provided.
This he was delighted to do, and having first fetched from his own garden all the strawberries, cherries, nuts and flowers he could find.
