THE SHADOW. 343

That evening the Princess and the Shadow danced together
in the great ball-room. She was light, but he was still lighter ;
never had she seen sucha dancer. She told him from what country
she came, and he knew the country—he had been there, but just
when she had been absent. He had looked through the windows
of her castle, from below as well as from above; he had learned
many circumstances, and could therefore make allusions, and
give replies to the Princess, at which she marvelled greatly. She
thought he must be the cieverest man in all the world, and was
inspired with great respect for all his knowledge. And when she
danced with him again, she fell in love with him, and the Shadow
noticed that particularly, for she looked him almost through and
through with her eyes. They danced together once more, and
she was nearly telling him, but she was discreet: she thought of
her country, and her kingdom, and of the many people over whom
she was to rule.

“ He is a clever man,” she said to herself, ‘and that is well,
and he dances capitally, and that is well too; but has he well-
grounded knowledge? That is just as important, and he must
be examined.”

And she immediately put such a difficult question to him, that
she could not have answered it herself; and the Shadow made
a wry face.

“You cannot answer me that,” said the Princess.

“J learned that in my childhood,” replied the Shadow, “and
I believe my very shadow, standing yonder by the door, could
answer it.” :

“Your shadow!” cried the Princess: “that would be very re-
markable.”

“T do not assert as quite certain that he can do so,” said the
Shadow, “but I am almost inclined to believe it. But your Royal
Highness will allow me to remind you that he is so proud of
passing for a man, that, if he is to be in a good humour, and he
should be so to answer rightly, he must be treated just like a
man.” .

“T like that,” said the Princess,

And now she went to the learned man at the door; and she
spoke with him of sun and moon, of the green forests, and of
people near and far off; and the learned man answered very
cleverly and very well.

“What a man that must be, who has such a clever shadow!”
she thought. “It would be a real blessing for my country and
for my people if I chose him; and I'll do it!”

And they soon struck a bargain—the Princess and the Shadow;
but no one was to know anything of it till she had returned to
her kingdom.

“ No one—not even my shadow,” said the Shadow; and for
this he had especial reasons,