At the moment that he knocked at the door of the palace the princess had tired of all her employments , and her attendants were at their wits ' end how to amuse her , when a tall negro dressed in scarlet came to announce that the ogre was below , and desired to know if the princess would speak to him . ` Bring him hither at once ! ' cried she , springing up from her cushions , and forgetting all her resolves of the previous night . In another moment she was bending with rapture over the glittering gems . ` Have you got it ? ' asked the ogre in a whisper , for the princess 's ladies were standing as near as they dared to catch a glimpse of the beautiful jewels . ` Yes , here , ' she answered , slipping the stone from her sash and placing it among the rest . Then she raised her voice , and began to talk quickly of the prices of the chains and necklaces , and after some bargaining , to deceive the attendants , she declared that she liked one string of pearls better than all the rest , and that the ogre might take away the other things , which were not half as valuable as he supposed . ` As you please , madam , ' said he , bowing himself out of the palace . Soon after he had gone a curious thing happened . The princess carelessly touched the wall of her room , which was wont to reflect the warm red light of the fire on the hearth , and found her hand quite wet . She turned round , and -- was it her fancy ? or did the fire burn more dimly than before ? Hurriedly she passed into the picture gallery , where pools of water showed here and there on the floor , and a cold chill ran through her whole body . At that instant her frightened ladies came running down the stairs , crying : ` Madam ! madam ! what has happened ? The palace is disappearing under our eyes ! ' ` My husband will be home very soon , ' answered the princess -- who , though nearly as much frightened as her ladies , felt that she must set them a good example . ` Wait till then , and he will tell us what to do . '
So they waited , seated XXXXX the highest chairs they could find , wrapped in their warmest garments , and with piles of cushions under their feet , while the poor birds flew with numbed wings hither and thither , till they were so lucky as to discover an open window in some forgotten corner .
At as in of on though through till to under