that　it　might　have　been　his　own　portrait！　The　White
  Cat　sighed　as　he　looked　at　it；　and　seemed　sadder　than
  ever；　and　the　Prince　dared　not　ask　any　questions　for　fear
  of　displeasing　her；　so　he　began　to　talk　about　other　things；
  and　found　that　she　was　interested　in　all　the　subjects　he
  cared　for　himself；　and　seemed　to　know　quite　well　what
  was　going　on　in　the　world。　After　supper　they　went　into
  another　room；　which　was　fitted　up　as　a　theatre；　and　the
  cats　acted　and　danced　for　their　amusement；　and　then　the
  White　Cat　said　good…night　to　him；　and　the　hands　conducted
  him　into　a　room　he　had　not　seen　before；　hung　with
  tapestry　worked　with　butterflies'　wings　of　every　color；
  there　were　mirrors　that　reached　from　the　ceiling　to　the
  floor；　and　a　little　white　bed　with　curtains　of　gauze　tied　up
  with　ribbons。　The　Prince　went　to　bed　in　silence；　as　he　did
  not　quite　know　how　to　begin　a　conversation　with　the
  hands　that　waited　on　him；　and　in　the　morning　he　was
  awakened　by　a　noise　and　confusion　outside　of　his　window；
  and　the　hands　came　and　quickly　dressed　him　in　hunting
  costume。　When　he　looked　out　all　the　cats　were　assembled
  in　the　courtyard；　some　leading　greyhounds；　some　blowing
  horns；　for　the　White　Cat　was　going　out　hunting。　The
  hands　led　a　wooden　horse　up　to　the　Prince；　and　seemed
  to　expect　him　to　mount　it；　at　which　he　was　very　indignant；
  but　it　was　no　use　for　him　to　object；　for　he　speedily
  found　himself　upon　its　back；　and　it　pranced　gaily　off　with
  him。
  The　White　Cat　herself　was　riding　a　monkey；　which
  climbed　even　up　to　the　eagles'　nests　when　she　had　a　fancy
  for　the　young　eaglets。　Never　was　there　a　pleasanter　hunting
  party；　and　when　they　returned　to　the　castle　the　Prince
  and　the　White　Cat　supped　together　as　before；　but　when
  they　had　finished　she　offered　him　a　crystal　goblet；　which
  must　have　contained　a　magic　draught；　for；　as　soon　as　he
  had　swallowed　its　contents；　he　forgot　everything；　even　the
  little　dog　that　he　was　seeking　for　the　King；　and　only
  thought　how　happy　he　was　to　be　with　the　White　Cat！
  And　so　the　days　passed；　in　every　kind　of　amusement；　until
  the　year　was　nearly　gone。　The　Prince　had　forgotten　all
  about　meeting　his　brothers：　he　did　not　even　know　what
  country　he　belonged　to；　but　the　White　Cat　knew　when　he
  ought　to　go　back；　and　one　day　she　said　to　him：
  〃Do　you　know　that　you　have　only　three　days　left　to
  look　for　the　little　dog　for　your　father；　and　your　brothers
  have　found　lovely　ones？〃
  Then　the　Prince　suddenly　recovered　his　memory；　and
  cried：
  〃What　can　have　made　me　forget　such　an　important
  thing？　My　whole　fortune　depends　upon　it；　and　even　if　I
  could　in　such　a　short　time　find　a　dog　pretty　enough　to
  gain　me　a　kingdom；　where　should　I　find　a　horse　who　would
  carry　me　all　that　way　in　three　days？〃　And　he　began　to
  be　very　vexed。　But　the　White　Cat　said　to　him：　〃King's
  son；　do　not　trouble　yourself；　I　am　your　friend；　and　will
  make　everything　easy　for　you。　You　can　still　stay　here　for
  a　day；　as　the　good　wooden　horse　can　take　you　to　your
  country　in　twelve　hours。〃
  〃I　thank　you；　beautiful　Cat；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but
  what　good　will　it　do　me　to　get　back　if　I　have　not　a　dog　to
  take　to　my　father？〃
  〃See　here；〃　answered　the　White　Cat；　holding　up　an
  acorn；　〃there　is　a　prettier　one　in　this　than　in　the　Dogstar！〃
  〃Oh！　White　Cat　dear；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃how　unkind
  you　are　to　laugh　at　me　now！〃
  〃Only　listen；〃　she　said；　holding　the　acorn　to　his　ear。
  And　inside　it　he　distinctly　heard　a　tiny　voice　say：
  〃Bow…wow！〃
  The　Prince　was　delighted；　for　a　dog　that　can　be　shut　up
  in　an　acorn　must　be　very　small　indeed。　He　wanted　to
  take　it　out　and　look　at　it；　but　the　White　Cat　said　it　would
  be　better　not　to　open　the　acorn　till　he　was　before　the
  King；　in　case　the　tiny　dog　should　be　cold　on　the　journey。
  He　thanked　her　a　thousand　times；　and　said　good…by　quite
  sadly　when　the　time　came　for　him　to　set　out。
  〃The　days　have　passed　so　quickly　with　you；〃　he　said；
  〃I　only　wish　I　could　take　you　with　me　now。〃
  But　the　White　Cat　shook　her　head　and　sighed　deeply
  in　answer。
  After　all　the　Prince　was　the　first　to　arrive　at　the　castle
  where　he　had　agreed　to　meet　his　brothers；　but　they　came
  soon　after；　and　stared　in　amazement　when　they　saw　the
  wooden　horse　in　the　courtyard　jumping　like　a　hunter。
  The　Prince　met　them　joyfully；　and　they　began　to　tell
  him　all　their　adventures；　but　he　managed　to　hide　from
  them　what　he　had　been　doing；　and　even　led　them　to　think
  that　a　turnspit　dog　which　he　had　with　him　was　the　one　he
  was　bringing　for　the　King。　Fond　as　they　all　were　of　one
  another；　the　two　eldest　could　not　help　being　glad　to　think
  that　their　dogs　certainly　had　a　better　chance。　The　next
  morning　they　started　in　the　same　chariot。　The　elder
  brothers　carried　in　baskets　two　such　tiny；　fragile　dogs
  that　they　hardly　dared　to　touch　them。　As　for　the　turnspit；
  he　ran　after　the　chariot；　and　got　so　covered　with　mud
  that　one　could　hardly　see　what　he　was　like　at　all。　When
  they　reached　the　palace　everyone　crowded　round　to　welcome
  them　as　they　went　into　the　King's　great　hall；　and
  when　the　two　brothers　presented　their　little　dogs　nobody
  could　decide　which　was　the　prettier。　They　were　already
  arranging　between　themselves　to　share　the　kingdom
  equally；　when　the　youngest　stepped　forward；　drawing
  from　his　pocket　the　acorn　the　White　Cat　had　given　him。
  He　opened　it　quickly；　and　there　upon　a　white　cushion
  they　saw　a　dog　so　small　that　it　could　easily　have　been　put
  through　a　ring。　The　Prince　laid　it　upon　the　ground；　and
  it　got　up　at　once　and　began　to　dance。　The　King　did　not
  know　what　to　say；　for　it　was　impossible　that　anything
  could　be　prettier　than　this　little　creature。　Nevertheless；　as
  he　was　in　no　hurry　to　part　with　his　crown；　he　told　his　sons
  that；　as　they　had　been　so　successful　the　first　time；　he
  would　ask　them　to　go　once　again；　and　seek　by　land　and　sea
  for　a　piece　of　muslin　so　fine　that　it　could　be　drawn　through
  the　eye　of　a　needle。　The　brothers　were　not　very　willing　to
  set　out　again；　but　the　two　eldest　consented　because　it　gave
  them　another　chance；　and　they　started　as　before。　The
  youngest　again　mounted　the　wooden　horse；　and　rode　back
  at　full　speed　to　his　beloved　White　Cat。　Every　door　of　the
  castle　stood　wide　open；　and　every　window　and　turret　was
  illuminated；　so　it　looked　more　wonderful　than　before。
  The　hands　hastened　to　meet　him；　and　led　the　wooden
  horse　off　to　the　stable；　while　he　hurried　in　to　find　the
  White　Cat。　She　was　asleep　in　a　little　basket　on　a　white
  satin　cushion；　but　she　very　soon　started　up　when　she
  heard　the　Prince；　and　was　overjoyed　at　seeing　him　once
  more。
  〃How　could　I　hope　that　you　would　come　back　to　me
  King's　son？〃　she　said。　And　then　he　stroked　and　petted
  her；　and　told　her　of　his　successful　journey；　and　how　he　had
  come　back　to　ask　her　help；　as　he　believed　that　it　was
  impossible　to　find　what　the　King　demanded。　The　White
  Cat　looked　serious；　and　said　she　must　think　what　was　to
  be　done；　but　that；　luckily；　there　were　some　cats　in　the
  castle　who　could　spin　very　well；　and　if　anybody　could
  manage　it　they　could；　and　she　would　set　them　the　task
  herself。
  And　then　the　hands　appeared　carrying　torches；　and
  conducted　the　Prince　and　the　White　Cat　to　a　long　gallery
  which　overlooked　the　river；　from　the　windows　of　which
  they　saw　a　magnificent　display　of　fireworks　of　all　sorts；
  after　which　they　had　supper；　which　the　Prince　liked　even
  better　than　the　fireworks；　for　it　was　very　late；　and　he　was
  hungry　after　his　long　ride。　And　so　the　days　passed　quickly
  as　before；　it　was　impossible　to　feel　dull　with　the　White
  Cat；　and　she　had　quite　a　talent　for　inventing　new　amusements
  indeed；　she　was　cleverer　than　a　cat　has　any　right
  to　be。　But　when　the　Prince　asked　her　how　it　was　that　she
  was　so　wise；　she　only　said：
  〃King's　son；　do　not　ask　me；　guess　what　you　please。　I
  may　not　tell　you　anything。〃
  The　Prince　was　so　happy　that　he　did　not　trouble　himself
  at　all　about　the　time；　but　presently　the　White　Cat
  told　him　that　the　year　was　gone；　and　that　he　need　not　be
  at　all　anxious　about　the　piece　of　muslin；　as　they　had　made
  it　very　well。
  〃This　time；〃　she　added；　〃I　can　give　you　a　suitable
  escort〃；　and　on　looking　out　into　the　courtyard　the　Prince
  saw　a　superb　chariot　of　burnished　gold；　enameled　in　flame
  color　with　a　thousand　different　devices。　It　was　drawn　by
  twelve　snow…white　horses；　harnessed　four　abreast；　their
  trappings　were　flame…colored　velvet；　embroidered　with
  diamonds。　A　hundred　chariots　followed；　each　drawn　by
  eight　horses；　and　filled　with　officers　in　splendid　uniforms；
  and　a　thousand　guards　surrounded　the　procession。　〃Go！〃
  said　the　White　Cat；　〃and　when　you　appear　before　the
  King　in　such　state　he　surely　will　not　refuse　you　the　crown
  which　you　deserve。　Take　this　walnut；　but　do　not　open
  it　until　you　are　before　him；　then　you　will　find　in　it　the
  piece　of　stuff　you　asked　me　for。〃
  〃Lovely　Blanchette；〃　said　the