Page:Fairytales00auln.djvu/125

Rh commodious than any he had ever seen. There was a bed in it with gold and green gauze furniture, looped up in festoons with ropes of pearls, and tassels of rubies and emeralds. It was already light enough for him to examine and admire the extraordinary magnificence of this piece of furniture. Having fastened the door, he fell asleep; but the thoughts of his beautiful princess disturbed his slumbers, and he awoke frequently sighing forth her name.

He rose so early that he had time to grow impatient before the time arrived that she was visible, and looking about him, he perceived a canvas prepared for painting, and a packet of colours. He immediately remembered what the Princess had said to Abricotine about her portrait; and, without losing an instant, he sat down before a large looking-glass, (for he painted better than the best artists of his time.) and took his own portrait; he then drew in an oval that of the Princess, for her features were so vividly impressed on his heart, that he had no occasion to see her for the first sketch. He finished the portrait afterwards from the fair original without her perceiving him, and as the desire to please her gave a charm to his labour, never was there a picture so admirably painted. He had drawn himself kneeling and holding the portrait of the Princess in one hand, and in the other a scroll, on which was written,

Her image is more perfect in my heart.

When she entered her cabinet she was astonished to see the picture of a man. She riveted her eyes upon it in still greater surprise when she recognised her own, and read the inscription on the scroll, which afforded her ample food for curiosity and conjecture. She was alone at that moment, and could not tell what to think of so extraordinary a circumstance, but persuaded herself that it must be Abricotine who had paid her this delicate attention. She now only wanted to ascertain whether the picture of this cavalier was merely a fancy one, or if Abricotine had really seen such a person. She rose hastily, and ran to call her. Leander was already in the cabinet with his little red hat on, anxious to hear what would be said on the subject.

The Princess desired Abricotine to look at the picture, and to give her his opinion of it. The moment she cast her eyes upon it, she exclaimed, "I protest, Madam, it is the likeness