When the king awoke and found that the tree to which he had tied his horse had its lowest branch broken , and that nothing living was in sight , he was much dismayed , and sought high and low for his lost treasure , but all in vain . After a time he began to get hungry , so he decided that he had better try to find his way out of the forest , and perhaps he might have a chance of getting something to eat . He had only gone a few steps when he met Aveline , who had taken the shape of an old woman with a heavy bundle of faggots on her back . She staggered along the path and almost fell at his feet , and Souci , afraid that she might have hurt herself , picked her up and set her on her feet again before passing on his way . But he was not to be let off so easy . ` What about my bundle ? ' cried the old woman . ` Where is your politeness ? Really , you seem to have been very nicely brought up ! What have they taught you ? ' ` Taught me ? Nothing , ' replied he . ' I can well believe it ! ' she said . ` You do n't know even how to pick up a bundle . Oh , you can come near ; I am cleverer than you , and know how to pick up a bundle very well . ' The king blushed at her words , which he felt had a great deal of truth in them , and took up the bundle meekly . Aveline , delighted at the success of her first experiment , hobbled along after him , chattering all the while , as old women do . ' I wish , ' she said , ` that all kings had done as much once in their lives . Then they would know what a lot of trouble it takes to get wood for their fires . '
Souci felt this to be true , and was sorry XXXXX the old woman .
After about along at for of so than to with