Over the woods and fields they went , and at length they reached a king 's palace surrounded by beautiful gardens . The princess was walking with her attendants in the rose garden when the dove turned itself into a gold ring and fell at her feet . ` Why , here is a ring ! ' she cried , ` where could it have come from ? ' And picking it up she put it on her finger . As she did so the hill-man lost his power over Hans -- for of course you understand that it was he who had been the dog , the cow , the horse and the dove . ` Well , that is really strange , ' said the princess . ` It fits me as though it had been made for me ! ' Just at that moment up came the king . ` Look at what I have found ! ' cried his daughter . ` Well , that is not worth much , my dear , ' said he . ` Besides , you have rings enough , I should think . ' ` Never mind , I like it , ' replied the princess . But as soon as she was alone , to her amazement , the ring suddenly left her finger and became a man . You can imagine how frightened she was , as , indeed , anybody would have been ; but in an instant the man became a ring again , and then turned back to a man , and so it went on for some time until she began to get used to these sudden changes . ' I am sorry I frightened you , ' said Hans , when he thought he could safely speak to the princess without making her scream . ' I took refuge with you because the old hill-man , whom I have offended , was trying to kill me , and here I am safe . ' ` You had better stay here then , ' said the princess . So Hans stayed , and he and she became good friends ; though , of course , he only became a man when no one else was present .
This was all very well ; but , one day , XXXXX they were talking together , the king happened to enter the room , and although Hans quickly changed himself into a ring again it was too late .
Over as by in into of on so with without