He said that he often did, but that during the last two nights he
was listening to a sweet song in his dreams, and could not wake,
and that the voice was one that he must have known and loved in
some other world long ago. Says she, 'Did you drink any sleepy
posset either of these evenings before you went to bed?' 'I did,'
said he. 'The two evenings my wife gave me something to drink,
but I don't know whether it was a sleepy posset or not.' 'Well,
prince,' said she, 'as you say you would wish to oblige me, you
can do it by not tasting any drink to-night.' 'I will not,' says
he, and then he went on his walk.

Well, the great lady came soon after the prince, and found the
stranger using her hand-reel and winding threads of gold off it,
and the third bargain was made.

That evening the prince was lying on his bed at twilight, and his
mind much disturbed; and the door opened, and in his princess
walked, and down she sat by his bedside and sung:

Four long years I was married to thee; Three sweet babes I bore
to thee; Brown Bear of Norway, turn to me.

'Brown Bear of Norway !' said he. 'I don't understand you.'
'Don't you remember, prince, that I was your wedded wife for four
years?' 'I do not,' said he, 'but I'm sure I wish it was so.'
'Don't you remember our three babes that are still alive?' 'Show
me them. My mind is all a heap of confusion.' 'Look for the half
of our marriage ring, that hangs at your neck, and fit it to
this.' He did so, and the same moment the charm was broken. His
full memory came back on him, and he flung his arms round his