'Let's see what sort of people are in the castle.' On he walked,
across fields and lawn, and no one was there to keep him out or
let him into the castle; but the big hall-door was wide open. He
went from one fine room to another that was finer, and at last he
reached the handsomest of all, with a table in the middle. And
such a dinner as was laid upon it! The prince was hungry enough,
but he was too mannerly to eat without being invited. So he sat
by the fire, and he did not wait long till he heard steps, and in
came Seven Inches with the youngest sister by the hand. Well,
prince and princess flew into one another's arms, and says the
little man, says he, 'Why aren't you eating?' 'I think, sir,'
says the prince, 'it was only good manner to wait to be asked.'
'The other princes didn't think so,' says he. 'Each o' them fell
to without leave, and only gave me the rough words when I told
them they were making more free than welcome. Well, I don't think
they feel much hunger now. There they are, good marble instead of
flesh and blood,' says he, pointing to two statues, one in one
corner, and the other in the other corner of the room. The prince
was frightened, but he was afraid to say anything, and Seven
Inches made him sit down to dinner between himself and his bride;
and he'd be as happy as the day is long, only for the sight of
the stone men in the corner. Well, that day went by, and when the
next came, says Seven Inches to him, 'Now, you'll have to set out
that way,' pointing to the sun, 'and you'll find the second
princess in a giant's castle this evening, when you'll be tired
and hungry, and the eldest princess to-morrow evening; and you
may as well bring them here with you. You need not ask leave of
their masters; and perhaps if they ever get home, they'll look on
poor people as if they were flesh and blood like themselves.'