asked the bee in a cross voice ; ` at your age you ought to be safe at home . ' ' I am running away from the mermaid , ' replied the boy ; but the bee , like the lion and the bear , was one of those people who never listen to the answers to their questions , and only said : ' I am hungry . Give me something to eat . ' The boy took his last loaf and flask out of his knapsack and laid them on the ground , and they had supper together . ` Well , now I am going to sleep , ' observed the bee when the last crumb was gone , ` but as you are not very big I can make room for you beside me , ' and he curled up his wings , and tucked in his legs , and he and the prince both slept soundly till morning . Then the bee got up and carefully brushed every scrap of dust off his velvet coat and buzzed loudly in the boy 's ear to waken him . ` Take a single hair from one of my wings , ' said he , ` and if you are in danger just wish yourself a bee and you will become one . One good turn deserves another , so farewell , and thank you for your supper . ' And the bee departed after the boy had pulled out the hair and wrapped it carefully in a leaf . ` It must feel quite different to be a bee from what it does to be a lion or bear , ' thought the boy to himself when he had walked for an hour or two . ' I dare say I should get on a great deal faster , ' so he pulled out his hair and wished himself a bee . In a moment the strangest thing happened to him . All his limbs seemed to draw together , and his body to become very short and round ; his head grew quite tiny , and instead of his white skin he was covered with the richest , softest velvet . Better than all , he had two lovely gauze wings which carried him the whole day without getting tired . Late in the afternoon the boy fancied he saw a vast heap of stones a long way off , and he flew straight towards it . But when he reached the gates he saw that it was really a great town , so he wished himself back in his own shape and entered the city . He found the palace doors wide open and went boldly into a sort of hall which was full of people , and where men and maids were gossiping together . He joined their talk and soon learned from them that the king had only one daughter who had such a hatred to men that she would never suffer one to enter her presence . Her father was in despair , and had had pictures painted of the handsomest princes of all the courts in the world , in the hope that she might fall in love with one of them ; but it was no use ; the princess would not even allow the pictures to be brought into her room . ` It is late , ' remarked one of the women at last ; ' I must go to my mistress . '
And , turning XXXXX one of the lackeys , she bade him find a bed for the youth .
after in of off than that till to towards without