However , the fear of not getting away made her leave before the marriage was over . She went out hastily , leaving behind her a little coral casket set with emeralds . On it was written in diamond letters : `` Jewels for the Bride , '' and when they opened it , which they did as soon as it was found , there seemed to be no end to the pretty things it contained . The King , who had hoped to join the unknown Princess and find out who she was , was dreadfully disappointed when she disappeared so suddenly , and gave orders that if she ever came again the doors were to be shut that she might not get away so easily . Short as Miranda 's absence had been , it had seemed like a hundred years to the King of the Sheep . He was waiting for her by a fountain in the thickest part of the forest , and the ground was strewn with splendid presents which he had prepared for her to show his joy and gratitude at her coming back . As soon as she was in sight he rushed to meet her , leaping and bounding like a real sheep . He caressed her tenderly , throwing himself at her feet and kissing her hands , and told her how uneasy he had been in her absence , and how impatient for her return , with an eloquence which charmed her . After some time came the news that the King 's second daughter was going to be married . When Miranda heard it she begged the King of the Sheep to allow her to go and see the wedding as before . This request made him feel very sad , as if some misfortune must surely come of it , but his love for the Princess being stronger than anything else he did not like to refuse her . `` You wish to leave me , Princess , '' said he ; `` it is my unhappy fate -- you are not to blame . I consent to your going , but , believe me , I can give you no stronger proof of my love than by so doing . '' The Princess assured him that she would only stay a very short time , as she had done before , and begged him not to be uneasy , as she would be quite as much grieved if anything detained her as he could possibly be . So , with the same escort , she set out , and reached the palace as the marriage ceremony began . Everybody was delighted to see her ; she was so pretty that they thought she must be some fairy princess , and the Princes who were there could not take their eyes off her . The King was more glad than anyone else that she had come again , and gave orders that the doors should all be shut and bolted that very minute . When the wedding was all but over the Princess got up quickly , hoping to slip away unnoticed among the crowd , but , to her great dismay , she found every door fastened . She felt more at ease when the King came up to her , and with the greatest respect begged her not to run away so soon , but at least to honor him by staying for the splendid feast which was prepared for the Princes and Princesses . He led her into a magnificent hall , where all the Court was assembled , and himself taking up the golden bowl full of water , he offered it to her that she might dip her pretty fingers into it .
At this the Princess could no longer contain herself ; throwing herself at the King 's feet , she cried out : `` My dream has come true after all -- you have offered me water XXXXX wash my hands on my sister 's wedding day , and it has not vexed you to do it . ''
After On as at before into of that to with