Page:Chinese Fairy Tales (H. Giles, 1920).djvu/44

42 given to the man, who went away grumbling at his bad luck. The prince had a long conversation with the bird, and by and by sent for some meat for it to eat. After this, the bird said, "Please, your Highness, may I have a bath?" At this the prince told the servants to bring water in a golden bowl, and he opened the cage door for the bird to come out. The bird splashed about in the bath; and when it had finished, flew up and perched on the eaves of the palace, where it shook itself and smoothed its feathers, talking all the time to the prince. When it was quite dry it suddenly said "Good-bye, your Highness; I'm off!" And in half a moment the bird was out of sight. The prince was very angry, and immediately sent out to call the man back; but he had disappeared. Later on some people saw the man and the bird back again in their own old home.