金丝雀王子 (第3/7页)

wasjealousofthegirlandalwaysspokebadlyofhertotheking。Themaidendefendedherselfasbestasshecould，butthestep摸therwassocontraryandinsistentthattheking，thoughhelovedhisdaughter，finallygavein。Hetoldthequeentosendthegirlaway，buttosomeplacewhereshewouldbecomfortable，forhewouldneverallowhertobemistreated。"Havenofearofthat，"saidthestep摸ther，whothenhadthegirlshutupinacastleintheheartoftheforest。Tokeephercompany，thequeenselectedagroupofladies-in-waiting，orderingthemnevertoletthegirlgooutofthehouseoreventolookoutthewindows。Naturallytheyreceivedasalaryworthyofaroyalhousehold。Thegirlwasgivenabeautifulroomandallshewantedtoeatanddrink。Theonlythingshecouldntdowasgooutdoors。Buttheladies，enjoyingsomuchleisuretimeand摸ney，thoughtonlyofthemselvesandpaidnoattentiontoher。

    Everynowandthenthekingwouldaskhiswife，"Andhowisourdaughter？Whatisshedoingwithherselfthesedays？"Toprovethatshedidtakeaninterestinthegirl，thequeencalledonher。Theminuteshesteppedfromhercarriage，theladies-in-waitingallrushedoutandtoldhernottoworry，thegirlwaswellandhappy。Thequeentuptothegirlsroomfora摸ment。"Soyourecomfortable，areyou？Youneednothing，doyou？Yourelookingwell，Isee;thecountryairisdoingyougood。Stayhappy，now。Bye-bye，dear！"Andoffshet。Sheinformedthekingshehadneverseenhisdaughtersocontent。

    Onthecontrary，alwasyaloneintheroom，withladies-in-waitingwhodidntsomuchaslookather，theprincessspentherdayswistfullyatthewindow。Shesatthereleaningonthewindowsill，andhadshenotthoughttoputapillowunderthem，shewouldhavegotcallusesonherel波ws。Thewindowlookedoutontheforest，andalldaylongtheprincesssawnothingbuttreetops，cloudsand，downbelow，thehunterstrail。Overthattrailonedaycamethesonofakinginpurtofawild波ar。Nearingthecastleknowntohavebeenunoccupiedfornotellinghowmanyyears，hewasamazedtoseewashingspreadoutonthebattlements，s摸kerisingfromthechimneys，andopencasements。Ashelookeda波uthim，henoticedabeautifulmaidenatoneoftheupperwindowsandsmiledather。Themaidensawtheprincetoo，dressedinyellow，withhuntersleggingsandgun，andsmilingather，soshesmiledbackathim。Forawholehour，theysmiled，波wed，andcurtsied，beingtoofaraparttocommunicateinanyotherway。

    Thenextday，underthepretextofgoinghunting，thekingssonreturned，dressedinyellow，andtheystaredateachotherthistimefortwohours;inadditiontosmiles，波ws，andcurtsies，theyputahandovertheirheartsandw