move a step. But the wise woman never even looked about: she kept
walking on steadily, the same space as before. Little Obstinate
thought for certain she would turn; for she regarded herself as much
too precious to be left behind. But on and on the wise woman went,
until she had vanished away in the dim moonlight. Then all at once
the princess perceived that she was left alone with the moon,
looking down on her from the height of her loneliness. She was
horribly frightened, and began to run after the wise woman, calling
aloud. But the song she had just heard came back to the sound of her
own running feet,--

All all alone,
Like a dog-picked bone!

and again,--

She might call and shout,
And no one about
Would ever call back, "Who's there?"

and she screamed as she ran. How she wished she knew the old woman's
name, that she might call it after her through the moonlight!

But the wise woman had, in truth, heard the first sound of her
running feet, and stopped and turned, waiting. What with running and
crying, however, and a fall or two as she ran, the princess never
saw her until she fell right into her arms--and the same moment into
a fresh rage; for as soon as any trouble was over the princess was
always ready to begin another. The wise woman therefore pushed her
away, and walked on; while the princess ran scolding and storming