Teach me how to become invisible . ' Then there instantly appeared on the laurel a pretty white flower , which Michael gathered and stuck into his button-hole . VI That evening , when the princesses went upstairs to bed , he followed them barefoot , so that he might make no noise , and hid himself under one of the twelve beds , so as not to take up much room . The princesses began at once to open their wardrobes and boxes . They took out of them the most magnificent dresses , which they put on before their mirrors , and when they had finished , turned themselves all round to admire their appearances . Michael could see nothing from his hiding-place , but he could hear everything , and he listened to the princesses laughing and jumping with pleasure . At last the eldest said , ` Be quick , my sisters , our partners will be impatient . ' At the end of an hour , when the Star Gazer heard no more noise , he peeped out and saw the twelve sisters in splendid garments , with their satin shoes on their feet , and in their hands the bouquets he had brought them . ` Are you ready ? ' asked the eldest . ` Yes , ' replied the other eleven in chorus , and they took their places one by one behind her . Then the eldest Princess clapped her hands three times and a trap door opened . All the princesses disappeared down a secret staircase , and Michael hastily followed them . As he was following on the steps of the Princess Lina , he carelessly trod on her dress . ` There is somebody behind me , ' cried the Princess ; ` they are holding my dress . ' ` You foolish thing , ' said her eldest sister , ` you are always afraid of something . It is only a nail which caught you . ' VII They went down , down , down , till at last they came to a passage with a door at one end , which was only fastened with a latch . The eldest Princess opened it , and they found themselves immediately in a lovely little wood , where the leaves were spangled with drops of silver which shone in the brilliant light of the moon . They next crossed another wood where the leaves were sprinkled with gold , and after that another still , where the leaves glittered with diamonds .
At last the Star Gazer perceived a large lake , and on the shores of the lake twelve little boats XXXXX awnings , in which were seated twelve princes , who , grasping their oars , awaited the princesses .
As after at before behind from in into to with