Our heroine obeyed with great sweetness , and without having been able to take leave of her lover she set off to go to Locrinos as to certain death . As she was crossing a wood a bird sang to her to pick up a shining pebble which she would find in a fountain close by , and to use it when needed . She took the bird 's advice , and in due time arrived at the house of Locrinos . Luckily she only found his wife at home , who was much struck by the Princess 's youth and beauty and sweet gentle manners , and still further impressed by the present of the shining pebble . She readily let Fairer-than-a-Fairy have the fire , and in return for the stone she gave her another , which , she said , might prove useful some day . Then she sent her away without doing her any harm . Lagree was as much surprised as displeased at the happy result of this expedition , and Fairer-than-a Fairy waited anxiously for an opportunity of meeting Prince Rainbow and telling him her adventures . She found , however , that he had already been told all about them by a Fairy who protected him , and to whom he was related . The dread of fresh dangers to his beloved Princess made him devise some more convenient way of meeting than by the garden fountain , and Fairer-than-a-Fairy carried out his plan daily with entire success . Every morning she placed a large basin full of water on her window-sill , and as soon as the sun 's rays fell on the water the Rainbow appeared as clearly as it had ever done in the fountain . By this means they were able to meet without losing sight of the fire or of the two bottles in which the old Fairy kept her eye and her tooth at night , and for some time the lovers enjoyed every hour of sunshine together . One day Prince Rainbow appeared in the depths of woe . He had just heard that he was to be banished from this lovely spot , but he had no idea where he was to go . The poor young couple were in despair , and only parted with the last ray of sunshine , and in hopes of meeting next morning . Alas ! next day was dark and gloomy , and it was only late in the afternoon that the sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes . Fairer-than-a-Fairy eagerly ran to the window , but in her haste she upset the basin , and spilt all the water with which she had carefully filled it overnight . No other water was at hand except that in the two bottles . It was the only chance of seeing her lover before they were separated , and she did not hesitate to break the bottle and pour their contents into the basin , when the Rainbow appeared at once . Their farewells were full of tenderness ; the Prince made the most ardent and sincere protestations , and promised to neglect nothing which might help to deliver his dear Fairer-than-a-Fairy from her captivity , and implored her to consent to their marriage as soon as they should both be free .
The Princess , on her side , vowed to have no other husband , and declared herself willing XXXXX brave death itself in order to rejoin him .
By as before in into of through to with without