"This is very kind of you, prince," said the princess at last,
quite coolly, as she lay in the boat with her eyes shut.

"I am sorry I can't return the compliment," thought the prince;
"but you are worth dying for, after all."

Again a wavelet, and another, and another flowed over the stone,
and wetted both the prince's knees; but he did not speak or move.
Two--three--four hours passed in this way, the princess apparently
asleep, and the prince very patient. But he was much disappointed
in his position, for he had none of the consolation he had hoped
for.

At last he could bear it no longer.

"Princess!" said he.

But at the moment up started the princess, crying,--

"I'm afloat! I'm afloat!"

And the little boat bumped against the stone.

"Princess!" repeated the prince, encouraged by seeing her wide
awake and looking eagerly at the water.

"Well?" said she, without looking round.

"Your papa promised that you should look at me, and you haven't
looked at me once."