`` Lovely Blanchette , '' said the Prince , `` how can I thank you properly for all your kindness to me ? Only tell me that you wish it , and I will give up for ever all thought of being king , and will stay here with you always . '' `` King 's son , '' she replied , `` it shows the goodness of your heart that you should care so much for a little white cat , who is good for nothing but to catch mice ; but you must not stay . '' So the Prince kissed her little paw and set out . You can imagine how fast he traveled when I tell you that they reached the King 's palace in just half the time it had taken the wooden horse to get there . This time the Prince was so late that he did not try to meet his brothers at their castle , so they thought he could not be coming , and were rather glad of it , and displayed their pieces of muslin to the King proudly , feeling sure of success . And indeed the stuff was very fine , and would go through the eye of a very large needle ; but the King , who was only too glad to make a difficulty , sent for a particular needle , which was kept among the Crown jewels , and had such a small eye that everybody saw at once that it was impossible that the muslin should pass through it . The Princes were angry , and were beginning to complain that it was a trick , when suddenly the trumpets sounded and the youngest Prince came in . His father and brothers were quite astonished at his magnificence , and after he had greeted them he took the walnut from his pocket and opened it , fully expecting to find the piece of muslin , but instead there was only a hazel-nut . He cracked it , and there lay a cherry-stone . Everybody was looking on , and the King was chuckling to himself at the idea of finding the piece of muslin in a nutshell . However , the Prince cracked the cherry-stone , but everyone laughed when he saw it contained only its own kernel . He opened that and found a grain of wheat , and in that was a millet seed . Then he himself began to wonder , and muttered softly : `` White Cat , White Cat , are you making fun of me ? '' In an instant he felt a cat 's claw give his hand quite a sharp scratch , and hoping that it was meant as an encouragement he opened the millet seed , and drew out of it a piece of muslin four hundred ells long , woven with the loveliest colors and most wonderful patterns ; and when the needle was brought it went through the eye six times with the greatest ease ! The King turned pale , and the other Princes stood silent and sorrowful , for nobody could deny that this was the most marvelous piece of muslin that was to be found in the world . Presently the King turned to his sons , and said , with a deep sigh : `` Nothing could console me more in my old age than to realize your willingness to gratify my wishes . Go then once more , and whoever at the end of a year can bring back the loveliest princess shall be married to her , and shall , without further delay , receive the crown , for my successor must certainly be married . '' The Prince considered that he had earned the kingdom fairly twice over but still he was too well bred to argue about it , so he just went back to his gorgeous chariot , and , surrounded by his escort , returned to the White Cat faster than he had come . This time she was expecting him , the path was strewn with flowers , and a thousand braziers were burning scented woods which perfumed the air .
Seated in a gallery from which she could see his arrival , the White XXXXX waited for him .
Blanchette Cat King Prince braziers cherry-stone ells hazel-nut muslin year