Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/185

Rh for her feathers, but—they were gone; before she knew what to do, or where to go, Prince Ignatius caught her in his arms and held her tightly, while he looked with admiration at the lovely face; but as he held her she changed suddenly into a stick and rolled down on his feet. Prince Ignatius, however, was not astonished, nor in the least "put out," for he was well acquainted with all magic arts, and knew what to do and how to manage them. He picked up the little stick, and breaking it in three, threw the two ends behind him and the middle before him, saying,—

"Before me appear the most beautiful of maidens, the charming Princess Marie, and behind me a thick oak-tree."

And so it was; behind him stood the oak-tree and before him appeared the lovely princess, once more in all her great beauty. After this Prince Ignatius begged his friend's pardon, and was gladly forgiven; they then all three of them went to the palace, where Prince Ignatius gave orders for a grand feast on the following day, and also arrangements for his marriage with Princess Marie, which was to take place at the same time.

The wedding was very grand indeed; all the kings and queens of the kingdoms round about the World's End were invited to it, and they all made merry. Prince Demitrius was best man. Everything went off splendidly, and the people enjoyed themselves immensely, with the exception of the wicked nurse and her daughter, who were sent to a place where they remained for the rest of their lives and were heard of no more.