Accordingly envoys were sent to bring back an exact report of the princess 's looks and ways , and they returned saying that she was tall and well made , but so very light that the equerries who accompanied her in her walks had to be always watching her , lest she should suddenly be blown away . This had happened so often that her subjects lived in terror of losing her altogether , and tried everything they could think of to keep her to the ground . They even suggested that she should carry weights in her pockets , or have them tied to her ankles ; but this idea was given up , as the princess found it so uncomfortable . At length it was decided that she was never to go out in a wind , and in order to make matters surer still the equerries each held the end of a string which was fastened to her waist . The Council talked over this report for some days , and then the king made up his mind that he would judge for himself , and pretend to be his own ambassador . This plan was by no means new , but it had often succeeded , and , anyhow , they could think of nothing better . Such a splendid embassy had never before been seen in any country . The kingdom was left in the charge of the Prime Minister , who answered ` Ditto ' to everything ; but the choice was better than it seemed , for the worthy man was much beloved by the people , as he agreed with all they said , and they left him feeling very pleased with themselves and their own wisdom . When the king arrived at Diaphana 's Court he found a magnificent reception awaiting him , for , though they pretended not to know who he was , secrets like this are never hidden . Now the young king had a great dislike to long ceremonies , so he proposed that his second interview with the princess should take place in the garden . The princess made some difficulties , but , as the weather was lovely and very still , she at last consented to the king 's wishes . But no sooner had they finished their first bows and curtseys than a slight breeze sprung up , and began to sway the princess , whose equerries had retired out of respect . The king went forward to steady her , but the wind that he caused only drove her further away from him . He rushed after her exclaiming , ' O princess ! are you really running away from me ? ' ` Good gracious , no ! ' she replied . ` Run a little quicker and you will be able to stop me , and I shall be for ever grateful . That is what comes of talking in a garden , ' she added in disgust ; ` as if one was n't much better in a room that was tightly closed all round . ' The king ran as fast as he could , but the wind ran faster still , and in a moment the princess was whirled to the bottom of the garden , which was bounded by a ditch .
She cleared it XXXXX a bird , and the king , who was obliged to stop short at the edge , saw the lovely Diaphana flying over the plain , sometimes driven to the right , sometimes to the left , till at last she vanished out of sight .
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