62, WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [I.

 

unless the Giant was fool enough to marry her, in
which case she would most likely soon follow the fate
of the seventeen wives whom he had already wedded
and sent off into the coal-pits as soon as he got tired
of them. As Pettina thought this was very likely an
invention of the old woman’s, she took no notice of
it, and, finding she was not likely to get much out of
either of her prisoners, the housekeeper shortly after-
wards took her departure. The night passed wearily
for the two Princesses. Sleep was absent from their
pillows, and to the recollection of their lost brother
was added their own misfortune, involving a captivity
which appeared, for all they could tell, likely to be
permanent.

They were early astir upon the following day, and
wished each other ‘good morning’ through the grating.
It was a lovely morning : the sun was shining brightly
in at their windows, and everything looked beautiful
in -his glowing light. As soon as the sisters had
dressed, and eaten the frugal breakfast of bread and
water which had been left them over-night by the
crabbed old housekeeper, each repaired to her window
in order to gaze upon the view therefrom, which ap-
peared likely to be the principal amusement by which
their captivity would be lightened. At the same
instant each gave vent to an exclamation of surprise.

‘Pettina! Pettina!’ cried Malvina; ‘I see an
army of white horses, miles away still, but evidently
coming in this direction. Can it be that they are
coming to help us poor girls?’

‘Oh, Malvina!’ cried her sister; ‘what do you
think Z see? Thousands upon thousands of swans!