Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/328

306 grander than grand itself, and as he went out of one gorgeous room into another, it was as if it was all made of gold and pearls, and everything that was costliest in the world. Folk there were none; but at last he came into a bedroom where there lay another princess on a bed of gold, just as though she were dead too, but she was as grand as the grandest queen, and as red and white as blood on snow, and so lovely, he had never seen anything so lovely but her picture; for she it was that was painted on it.



Then Boots forgot both the water he was to fetch, and the wild beasts, and the castle, and everything, and could only gaze at the princess; and he thought he could never have his fill of looking at her; but all the while she slept as though she were dead, and he was not able to wake her up.

So when it drew towards evening, the Troll came tearing along so that the wind sung after him, and he