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422 The Prince passed the night a prey to his usual anxieties. As soon as the first rays of the sun were shining in at his windows, he rose, and to divert his sadness, he went into the forest, telling Becafigue not to follow him. He walked for some time without taking any certain path, at length he arrived at rather a spacious place, thickly covered with trees and moss. Instantly a hind started off. He could not help following it—his dominant passion was the chase, but he cared less for it since love had taken possession of his heart. Notwithstanding that, he pursued the poor Hind, and from time to time he let fly an arrow at her, which frightened her to death, although she was not wounded, for her friend Tulip preserved her from that; and nothing less than the guardian hand of a fairy could have saved her from perishing from shafts so truly aimed. No one had ever felt so tired as the Princess of Hinds; such exercise was quite new to her. At last she fortunately took a turn by which the dangerous hunter lost sight of her, and being extremely fatigued himself, gave up the pursuit.

The day having passed in this manner, the Hind was delighted when the hour for retiring drew near. She turned her steps towards the house, where Giroflée was impatiently awaiting her. As soon as she was in her chamber, she threw herself upon the bed, quite out of breath, and in a great perspiration. Giroflée caressed her a thousand times, she was dying to hear what had happened to her. The hour for transformation had arrived, and the lovely Princess resumed her proper form. "Alas!" said she, "I thought I had nothing to fear but the Fairy of the Fountain, and the cruel inhabitants of the forests; but to-day I have been pursued by a young hunter, whom I scarcely saw, so hasty was my flight. A thousand arrows, shot after me, threatened me with inevitable death; I am still ignorant by what good fortune I could have been able to escape." "You must not go out any more, my Princess," replied Giroflée; "pass in this chamber the fatal time of your penance. I will go to the nearest city, to purchase books to amuse you, we will read the new stories that have been written about the fairies, we will compose verses and songs." "Peace, dear girl," replied the Princess, "the charming thought of Prince Guerrier is sufficient to occupy me pleasantly; but the same power which reduces me