THE
WHITE
CAT

She warned him of it the day before, and told him
that it remained only with him to obtain one of the
most beautiful princesses in the world; but in order
to do this, he must cut off her head and tail, and
throw them into the fire.
‘What!’ cried the Prince, ‘my lovely, my dear
White Cat! shall I who have received so many
favours from you, be so wicked, so ungrateful, as
to sacrifice you? You say this merely to try me,
whether I am heartless and selfish——
“No, indeed,’ interrupted the White Cat; ‘son of
a king, I know well your generous nature, and
that it will cut you to the heart to seem to act
towards mein a barbarous manner. Nevertheless,
do as I bid you; it is necessary, not for your own
happiness only, but also for mine.’
The Prince’s eyes filled with tears, and he could
hardly bring his mind to do what he was bidden.
He said all the tender things he could think of
to dissuade the cat from urging him to it; but she
obstinately answered that she wished to die by
his hand, and that unless he did as she required,
she would be condemned to a hopeless and pro-
tracted age of misery.
At last, most reluctantly, and with averted head
and trembling hand, the Prince drew his sword
and smote. He cut off her head at one blow, and
with the next hewed off her tail. Then picking
them up, he threw them into the fire.
Instantly there was a blaze and a flash, and the
whole apartment was filled with light and the most
delicious fragrance. In the midst of the light he
saw a most lovely maiden. At the same moment
the door opened, and a company of knights and
ladies entered, each carrying a cat’s skin.
With every token of joy they surrounded the
Princess, kissed her hand, and congratulated her
on being once more restored to her natural form.
She received them most graciously, and then
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