at a garden boy.

Now Michael knew quite well what had happened to all the
princes, but notwithstanding, the beautiful eyes of the Princess
Lina inspired him with a violent longing to try his fate.
Unhappily he did not dare to come forward, being afraid that he
should only be jeered at, or even turned away from the castle on
account of his impudence.


V


Nevertheless, the Star Gazer had another dream. The lady in
the golden dress appeared to him once more, holding in one hand
two young laurel trees, a cherry laurel and a rose laurel, and in
the other hand a little golden rake, a little golden bucket, and a
silken towel. She thus addressed him:

`Plant these two laurels in two large pots, rake them over with
the rake, water them with the bucket, and wipe them with the towel.
When they have grown as tall as a girl of fifteen, say to each of
them, ``My beautiful laurel, with the golden rake I have raked you,
with the golden bucket I have watered you, with the silken towel I
have wiped you.'' Then after that ask anything you choose, and the
laurels will give it to you.'

Michael thanked the lady in the golden dress, and when he
woke he found the two laurel bushes beside him. So he carefully
obeyed the orders he had been given by the lady.