"Well, I don't mind," said the king.

So he went the next morning to the house of the princess, and,
making a very humble apology, begged her to undo the spell. But the
princess declared, with a grave face, that she knew nothing at all
about it. Her eyes, however, shone pink, which was a sign that she
was happy. She advised the king and queen to have patience, and to
mend their ways. The king returned disconsolate. The queen tried to
comfort him.

"We will wait till she is older. She may then be able to suggest
something herself. She will know at least how she feels, and
explain things to us."

"But what if she should marry?" exclaimed the king, in sudden
consternation at the idea.

"Well, what of that?" rejoined the queen.
"Just think! If she were to have children! In the course of a
hundred years the air might be as full of floating children as of
gossamers in autumn."

"That is no business of ours," replied the queen. "Besides, by that
time they will have learned to take care of themselves."

A sigh was the king's only answer.

He would have consulted the court physicians; but he was afraid
they would try experiments upon her.