` But if you are very good , perhaps , in about a week , I may carry you home again . ' And so she did ; and when the cat drove the cart up to the palace gate , lashing the horse furiously with her tail , and the king and queen saw their lost daughter sitting beside her , they declared that no reward could be too great for the person who had brought her out of the giant 's hands . ` We will talk about that by-and-by , ' said the cat , as she made her best bow , and turned her horse 's head . The princess was very unhappy when Kisa left her without even bidding her farewell . She would neither eat nor drink , nor take any notice of all the beautiful dresses her parents bought for her . ` She will die , unless we can make her laugh , ' one whispered to the other . ` Is there anything in the world that we have left untried ? ' ` Nothing except marriage , ' answered the king . And he invited all the handsomest young men he could think of to the palace , and bade the princess choose a husband from among them . It took her some time to decide which she admired the most , but at last she fixed upon a young prince , whose eyes were like the pools in the forest , and his hair of bright gold . The king and the queen were greatly pleased , as the young man was the son of a neighbouring king , and they gave orders that a splendid feast should be got ready . When the marriage was over , Kisa suddenly stood before them , and Ingibjorg rushed forward and clasped her in her arms . ' I have come to claim my reward , ' said the cat . ` Let me sleep for this night at the foot of your bed . ' ` Is that ALL ? ' asked Ingibjorg , much disappointed . ` It is enough , ' answered the cat . And when the morning dawned , it was no cat that lay upon the bed , but a beautiful princess . ` My mother and I were both enchanted by a spiteful fairy , ' said she , ` we could not free ourselves till we had done some kindly deed that had never been wrought before . My mother died without ever finding a chance of doing anything new , but I took advantage of the evil act of the giant to make you as whole as ever . '
Then they were all more delighted than before , and the princess lived XXXXX the court until she , too , married , and went away to govern one of her own .
before by except for in like of so till upon