388. THE WHITE CAT.

the air, each holding a torch. The prince was so astonished that
he durst not move a step ; when he felt himself gently pushed
on by some other hands from behind him. He walked on, in
great perplexity, till he entered a vestibule inlaid with porphyry
and lapis-stone, where the most melodious voice he had ever
heard chanted the following words :—

Welcome, prince, no danger fear,

Mirth and love attend you here;

You shall break the magic spell,

‘That on a beautcous lady fell.

‘Welcome, prince, no danger fear,

Mirth and love attend you here.

‘The prince now advanced with confidence, wondering what
these words could mean ; the hands moved him forward towards
a large door of coral, which opened of itself to give him admit-
tance into a splendid apartment built of mother-o’-pearl, through.
which he passed into others so richly adorned with paintings and
jewels, and so resplendently lighted with thousands of lamps,
girandoles, and lustres, that the prince imagined he must be in
an enchanted palace. When he had passed through sixty apart-
ments, all equally splendid, he was stopped by the hands, and a
large easy-chair advanced of itself towards the chimney ; and
the hands, which he observed were extremely white and delicate,
took off his wet clothes, and supplied their place with the finest
linen imaginable, and then added a commodious wrapping-
gown, embroidered with the brightest gold, and all over en-
riched with pearls. The hands next brought him an elegant
dressing-table, and combed his hair so very gently, that he
scarcely felt their touch. They held before him a beautiful
basin, filled with perfumes, for him to wash his face and hands,
and afterwards took off the wrapping-gown, and dressed him in
a suit of clothes of still greater splendour. When his dress