And with these words she vanished , leaving her hearers happier than they ever thought they could be again . An old woman was standing at the door of the hut when Eglantine drew near , with the white doe trotting by her side . ` Good evening ! ' she said ; ` could you give me a night 's lodging for myself and my doe ? ' ` Certainly I can , ' replied the old woman . And she led them into a room with two little white beds , so clean and comfortable that it made you sleepy even to look at them . The door had hardly closed behind the old woman when the sun sank below the horizon , and Desiree became a girl again . ` Oh , Eglantine ! what should I have done if you had not followed me , ' she cried . And she flung herself into her friend 's arms in a transport of delight . Early in the morning Eglantine was awakened by the sound of someone scratching at the door , and on opening her eyes she saw the white doe struggling to get out . The little creature looked up and into her face , and nodded her head as the maid of honour unfastened the latch , but bounded away into the woods , and was lost to sight in a moment . Meanwhile , the prince and Becasigue were wandering through the wood , till at last the prince grew so tired , that he lay down under a tree , and told Becasigue that he had better go in search of food , and of some place where they could sleep . Becasigue had not gone very far , when a turn of the path brought him face to face with the old woman who was feeding her doves before her cottage . ` Could you give me some milk and fruit ? ' asked he . ' I am very hungry myself , and , besides , I have left a friend behind me who is still weak from illness . ' ` Certainly I can , ' answered the old woman . ` But come and sit down in my kitchen while I catch the goat and milk it . ' Becasigue was glad enough to do as he was bid , and in a few minutes the old woman returned with a basket brimming over with oranges and grapes .
` If your friend has been ill he should not pass the XXXXX in the forest , ' said she . '
Becasigue Desiree Eglantine arms brimming girl left milk minutes night