his wife.

On hearing the proclamation a number of princes arrived at
the castle to try their luck. They watched all night behind the
open door of the princesses, but when the morning came they had
all disappeared, and no one could tell what had become of them.


IV


When he reached the castle, Michael went straight to the
gardener and offered his services. Now it happened that the
garden boy had just been sent away, and though the Star Gazer
did not look very sturdy, the gardener agreed to take him, as he
thought that his pretty face and golden curls would please the
princesses.

The first thing he was told was that when the princesses got
up he was to present each one with a bouquet, and Michael thought
that if he had nothing more unpleasant to do than that he should
get on very well.

Accordingly he placed himself behind the door of the princesses'
room, with the twelve bouquets in a basket. He gave one to each
of the sisters, and they took them without even deigning to look at
the lad, except Lina the youngest, who fixed her large black eyes
as soft as velvet on him, and exclaimed, `Oh, how pretty he is--our
new flower boy!' The rest all burst out laughing, and the eldest
pointed out that a princess ought never to lower herself by looking