The maiden , seeing this , exclaimed : ` Listen to me , my ball , my ball . Roll the stone quickly to one side , That we may find a door . ' And in a moment the stone had rolled away , and they had passed through the door to the world again . ` Now we are safe , ' cried she . ` Here the old wizard has no more power over us , and we can guard ourselves from his spells . But , my friend , we have to part ! You will return to your parents , and I must go in search of mine . ' ` No ! no ! ' exclaimed the prince . ' I will never part from you . You must come with me and be my wife . We have gone through many troubles together , and now we will share our joys . The maiden resisted his words for some time , but at last she went with him . In the forest they met a woodcutter , who told them that in the palace , as well as in all the land , there had been great sorrow over the loss of the prince , and many years had now passed away during which they had found no traces of him . So , by the help of the magic ball , the maiden managed that he should put on the same clothes that he had been wearing at the time he had vanished , so that his father might know him more quickly . She herself stayed behind in a peasant 's hut , so that father and son might meet alone . But the father was no longer there , for the loss of his son had killed him ; and on his deathbed he confessed to his people how he had contrived that the old wizard should carry away a peasant 's child instead of the prince , wherefore this punishment had fallen upon him . The prince wept bitterly when he heard this news , for he had loved his father well , and for three days he ate and drank nothing . But on the fourth day he stood in the presence of his people as their new king , and , calling his councillors , he told them all the strange things that had befallen him , and how the maiden had borne him safe through all .
And the XXXXX cried with one voice , ` Let her be your wife , and our liege lady . '
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