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 he could take such a boy into his service, and ordered him to be sent away at once. But the Cook was sorry for him, and exchanged him with the Gardener’s boy.

Now the boy had to dig and hoe, plant and water, in every kind of weather. One day in the summer, when he was working alone in the garden, it was very hot, and he took off his cap for the fresh air to cool his head. When the sun shone on his hair it glittered so that the beams penetrated right into the Princess’s bedroom, and she sprang up to see what it was. She discovered the youth, and called to him, ‘Bring me a nosegay, young man.’

He hurriedly put on his cap, picked a lot of wild flowers, and tied them up. On his way up to the Princess, the Gardener met him, and said, ‘How can you take such poor flowers to the Princess? Quickly cut another bouquet, and mind they are the choicest and rarest flowers.’

‘Oh no,’ said the youth. ‘The wild flowers have a sweeter scent, and will please her better.’

As soon as he went into the room the Princess said, ‘Take off your cap; it is not proper for you to wear it before me.’ He answered again, ‘I may not take it off, because I have a wound on my head.’

But she took hold of the cap, and pulled it off, and all his