THE SUN 37

no delay, no pity, he must be executed before my return.
Such is my will and pleasure.”

This he carefully folded and sealed with the royal seal.

Plavacek took the letter and set off immediately. But
the forest through which he had to pass was so large, and
the trees so thick, that he missed the path and was over-
taken by the darkness before the journey was nearly over.
In the midst of his trouble he met an old woman who
said, “Where are you going, Plavacek? Where are you
going P”

“‘T am the bearer of a letter from the king to the queen,
but have missed the path to the palace. Could you, good
mother, put me on the right road?”

“Impossible to-day, my child; it is getting dark, and you
would not have time to get there. Stay with me to-night.
You will not be with strangers, for I am your godmother.”

Plavacek agreed. Thereupon they entered a pretty little
cottage that seemed suddenly to sink into the earth. Now
while he slept the old woman changed his letter for another,
which ran thus :—

“Immediately upon the receipt of this letter introduce
the bearer to the princess our daughter. I have chosen this
young man for my son-in-law, and it is my wish they should
be married before my return to the palace. Such is my
pleasure.”

The letter was duly delivered, and when the queen had
read it, she ordered everything to be prepared for the wed-
ding. Both she and her daughter greatly enjoyed Plavacek’s
society, and nothing disturbed the happiness of the newly
married pair.