16-the white cat-第2章

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thought　how　happy　he　was　to　be　with　the　White　Cat！

And　so　the　days　passed；　in　every　kind　of　amusement；　until

the　year　was　nearly　gone。　The　Prince　had　forgotten　all

about　meeting　his　brothers：　he　did　not　even　know　what

country　he　belonged　to；　but　the　White　Cat　knew　when　he

ought　to　go　back；　and　one　day　she　said　to　him：



〃Do　you　know　that　you　have　only　three　days　left　to

look　for　the　little　dog　for　your　father；　and　your　brothers

have　found　lovely　ones？〃



Then　the　Prince　suddenly　recovered　his　memory；　and

cried：



〃What　can　have　made　me　forget　such　an　important

thing？　My　whole　fortune　depends　upon　it；　and　even　if　I

could　in　such　a　short　time　find　a　dog　pretty　enough　to

gain　me　a　kingdom；　where　should　I　find　a　horse　who　would

carry　me　all　that　way　in　three　days？〃　And　he　began　to

be　very　vexed。　But　the　White　Cat　said　to　him：　〃King's

son；　do　not　trouble　yourself；　I　am　your　friend；　and　will

make　everything　easy　for　you。　You　can　still　stay　here　for

a　day；　as　the　good　wooden　horse　can　take　you　to　your

country　in　twelve　hours。〃



〃I　thank　you；　beautiful　Cat；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but

what　good　will　it　do　me　to　get　back　if　I　have　not　a　dog　to

take　to　my　father？〃



〃See　here；〃　answered　the　White　Cat；　holding　up　an

acorn；　〃there　is　a　prettier　one　in　this　than　in　the　Dogstar！〃



〃Oh！　White　Cat　dear；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃how　unkind

you　are　to　laugh　at　me　now！〃



〃Only　listen；〃　she　said；　holding　the　acorn　to　his　ear。



And　inside　it　he　distinctly　heard　a　tiny　voice　say：

〃Bow…wow！〃



The　Prince　was　delighted；　for　a　dog　that　can　be　shut　up

in　an　acorn　must　be　very　small　indeed。　He　wanted　to

take　it　out　and　look　at　it；　but　the　White　Cat　said　it　would

be　better　not　to　open　the　acorn　till　he　was　before　the

King；　in　case　the　tiny　dog　should　be　cold　on　the　journey。

He　thanked　her　a　thousand　times；　and　said　good…by　quite

sadly　when　the　time　came　for　him　to　set　out。



〃The　days　have　passed　so　quickly　with　you；〃　he　said；

〃I　only　wish　I　could　take　you　with　me　now。〃



But　the　White　Cat　shook　her　head　and　sighed　deeply

in　answer。



After　all　the　Prince　was　the　first　to　arrive　at　the　castle

where　he　had　agreed　to　meet　his　brothers；　but　they　came

soon　after；　and　stared　in　amazement　when　they　saw　the

wooden　horse　in　the　courtyard　jumping　like　a　hunter。



The　Prince　met　them　joyfully；　and　they　began　to　tell

him　all　their　adventures；　but　he　managed　to　hide　from

them　what　he　had　been　doing；　and　even　led　them　to　think

that　a　turnspit　dog　which　he　had　with　him　was　the　one　he

was　bringing　for　the　King。　Fond　as　they　all　were　of　one

another；　the　two　eldest　could　not　help　being　glad　to　think

that　their　dogs　certainly　had　a　better　chance。　The　next

morning　they　started　in　the　same　chariot。　The　elder

brothers　carried　in　baskets　two　such　tiny；　fragile　dogs

that　they　hardly　dared　to　touch　them。　As　for　the　turnspit；

he　ran　after　the　chariot；　and　got　so　covered　with　mud

that　one　could　hardly　see　what　he　was　like　at　all。　When

they　reached　the　palace　everyone　crowded　round　to　welcome

them　as　they　went　into　the　King's　great　hall；　and

when　the　two　brothers　presented　their　little　dogs　nobody

could　decide　which　was　the　prettier。　They　were　already

arranging　between　themselves　to　share　the　kingdom

equally；　when　the　youngest　stepped　forward；　drawing

from　his　pocket　the　acorn　the　White　Cat　had　given　him。

He　opened　it　quickly；　and　there　upon　a　white　cushion

they　saw　a　dog　so　small　that　it　could　easily　have　been　put

through　a　ring。　The　Prince　laid　it　upon　the　ground；　and

it　got　up　at　once　and　began　to　dance。　The　King　did　not

know　what　to　say；　for　it　was　impossible　that　anything

could　be　prettier　than　this　little　creature。　Nevertheless；　as

he　was　in　no　hurry　to　part　with　his　crown；　he　told　his　sons

that；　as　they　had　been　so　successful　the　first　time；　he

would　ask　them　to　go　once　again；　and　seek　by　land　and　sea

for　a　piece　of　muslin　so　fine　that　it　could　be　drawn　through

the　eye　of　a　needle。　The　brothers　were　not　very　willing　to

set　out　again；　but　the　two　eldest　consented　because　it　gave

them　another　chance；　and　they　started　as　before。　The

youngest　again　mounted　the　wooden　horse；　and　rode　back

at　full　speed　to　his　beloved　White　Cat。　Every　door　of　the

castle　stood　wide　open；　and　every　window　and　turret　was

illuminated；　so　it　looked　more　wonderful　than　before。

The　hands　hastened　to　meet　him；　and　led　the　wooden

horse　off　to　the　stable；　while　he　hurried　in　to　find　the

White　Cat。　She　was　asleep　in　a　little　basket　on　a　white

satin　cushion；　but　she　very　soon　started　up　when　she

heard　the　Prince；　and　was　overjoyed　at　seeing　him　once

more。



〃How　could　I　hope　that　you　would　come　back　to　me

King's　son？〃　she　said。　And　then　he　stroked　and　petted

her；　and　told　her　of　his　successful　journey；　and　how　he　had

come　back　to　ask　her　help；　as　he　believed　that　it　was

impossible　to　find　what　the　King　demanded。　The　White

Cat　looked　serious；　and　said　she　must　think　what　was　to

be　done；　but　that；　luckily；　there　were　some　cats　in　the

castle　who　could　spin　very　well；　and　if　anybody　could

manage　it　they　could；　and　she　would　set　them　the　task

herself。



And　then　the　hands　appeared　carrying　torches；　and

conducted　the　Prince　and　the　White　Cat　to　a　long　gallery

which　overlooked　the　river；　from　the　windows　of　which

they　saw　a　magnificent　display　of　fireworks　of　all　sorts；

after　which　they　had　supper；　which　the　Prince　liked　even

better　than　the　fireworks；　for　it　was　very　late；　and　he　was

hungry　after　his　long　ride。　And　so　the　days　passed　quickly

as　before；　it　was　impossible　to　feel　dull　with　the　White

Cat；　and　she　had　quite　a　talent　for　inventing　new　amusements

indeed；　she　was　cleverer　than　a　cat　has　any　right

to　be。　But　when　the　Prince　asked　her　how　it　was　that　she

was　so　wise；　she　only　said：



〃King's　son；　do　not　ask　me；　guess　what　you　please。　I

may　not　tell　you　anything。〃



The　Prince　was　so　happy　that　he　did　not　trouble　himself

at　all　about　the　time；　but　presently　the　White　Cat

told　him　that　the　year　was　gone；　and　that　he　need　not　be

at　all　anxious　about　the　piece　of　muslin；　as　they　had　made

it　very　well。



〃This　time；〃　she　added；　〃I　can　give　you　a　suitable

escort〃；　and　on　looking　out　into　the　courtyard　the　Prince

saw　a　superb　chariot　of　burnished　gold；　enameled　in　flame

color　with　a　thousand　different　devices。　It　was　drawn　by

twelve　snow…white　horses；　harnessed　four　abreast；　their

trappings　were　flame…colored　velvet；　embroidered　with

diamonds。　A　hundred　chariots　followed；　each　drawn　by

eight　horses；　and　filled　with　officers　in　splendid　uniforms；

and　a　thousand　guards　surrounded　the　procession。　〃Go！〃

said　the　White　Cat；　〃and　when　you　appear　before　the

King　in　such　state　he　surely　will　not　refuse　you　the　crown

which　you　deserve。　Take　this　walnut；　but　do　not　open

it　until　you　are　before　him；　then　you　will　find　in　it　the

piece　of　stuff　you　asked　me　for。〃



〃Lovely　Blanchette；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃how　can　I

thank　you　properly　for　all　your　kindness　to　me？　Only　tell

me　that　you　wish　it；　and　I　will　give　up　for　ever　all　thought

of　being　king；　and　will　stay　here　with　you　always。〃



〃King's　son；〃　she　replied；　〃it　shows　the　goodness　of

your　heart　that　you　should　care　so　much　for　a　little　white

cat；　who　is　good　for　nothing　but　to　catch　mice；　but　you

must　not　stay。〃



So　the　Prince　kissed　her　little　paw　and　set　out。　You　can

imagine　how　fast　he　traveled　when　I　tell　you　that　they

reached　the　King's　palace　in　just　half　the　time　it　had

taken　the　wooden　horse　to　get　there。　This　time　the

Prince　was　so　late　that　he　did　not　try　to　meet　his　brothers

at　their　castle；　so　they　thought　he　could　not　be　coming；

and　were　rather　glad　of　it；　and　displayed　their　pieces　of

muslin　to　the　King　proudly；　feeling　sure　of　success。　And

indeed　the　stuff　was　very　fine；　and　would　go　through　the

eye　of　a　very　large　needle；　but　the　King；　who　was　only　too

glad　to　make　a　difficulty；　sent　for　a　particular　needle；

which　was　kept　among　the　Crown　jewels；　and　had　such　a

small　eye　that　everybody　saw　at　once　that　it　was　impossible

that　the　muslin　should　pass　through　it。　The　Princes

were　angry；　and　were　beginning　to　complain　that　it　was

a　trick；　when　suddenly　the　trumpets　sounded　and　the

youngest　Prince　came　in。　His　father　and　brothers　were

quite　astonished　at　his　magnificence；　and　after　he　had

greeted　them　he　took　the　walnut　from　his　pocket　and

opened　it；　fully　expecting　to　find　the　piece　of　muslin；　but

instead　there　was　only　a　hazel…nut。　He　cracked　it；　and

there　lay　a　cherry…stone。　Everybody　was　looking　on；　and

the　King　was　chuckling　to　himself　at　the　idea　of　finding

the　piece　of　muslin　in　a　nutshell。



However；　the　Prince　cracked　the　cherry…stone；　but

everyone　laughed　when　he　saw　it　contained　only　its　own

kernel。　He　opened　that　and　found　a　grain　of　wheat；　and

in　that　was　a　millet　seed。　Then　he　himself　began　to

wonder；　and　muttered　softly：



〃White　Cat；　White　Cat；　are　you　making　fun　of　me？〃



In　an　instant　he　felt　a　cat's　claw　give　his　hand　quite　a

sharp　scratch；　and　hoping　that　it　was　meant　as　an

encouragement　he　opened　the　millet　seed；　and　drew　out　of

it　a　piece　of　muslin　four　hundred　ells　long；　woven　with　the

loveliest　colors　and　most　wonderful　patterns；　and　when

the　needle　was　brought　it　went　through　the　eye　six　times

with　the　greatest　ease！　The　King　turned　pale；　and　the

other　Princes　stood　silent　and　sorrowful；　for　nobody　could

deny　that　this　was　the　most　marvelous　piece　of　muslin

that　was　to　be　found　in　the　world



Presently　the　King　turned　to　his　sons；　and　said；　with　a

deep　sigh：



〃Nothing　could　console　me　more　in　my　old　age　than　to

realize　your　willingness　to　gratify　my　wishes。　Go　then

once　more；　and　whoever　at　the　end　of　a　year　can　bring

back　the　loveliest　princess　shall　be　married　to　her；　and

shall；　without　further　delay；　receive　the　crown；　for　my

successor　must　certainly　be　married。〃　The　Prince　considered

that　he　had　earned　the　kingdom　fairly　twice　over

but　still　he　was　too　well　bred　to　argue　about　it；　so　he

just　went　back　to　his　gorgeous　chariot；　and；　surrounded

by　his　escort；　returned　to　the　White　Cat　faster　than　he

had　come。　This　time　she　was　expecting　him；　the　path　was

strewn　with　flowers；　and　a　thousand　braziers　were　burning

scented　woods　which　perfumed　the　air。　Seated　in　a　gallery

from　which　she　could　see　his　arrival；　the　White　Cat　waited

for　him。　〃Well；　King's　son；〃　she　said；　〃here　you　are　once

more；　without　a　crown。〃　〃Madam；〃　said　he；　〃thanks　to

your　generosity　I　have　earned　one　twice　over；　but　the

fact　is　that　my　father　is　so　loth　to　part　with　it　that　it　would

be　no　pleasure　to　me　to　take　it。〃



〃Never　mind；〃　she　answered；　〃it's　just　as　well　to　try

and　deserve　it。　As　you　must　take　back　a　lovely　princess

with　you　next　time　I　will　be　on　the　look…out　for　one　for

you。　In　the　meantime　let　us　enjoy　ourselves；　to…night　I

have