The same evening the twelve sisters went again to the ball , and the Star Gazer again followed them and crossed the lake in Lina 's boat . This time it was the Prince who complained that the boat seemed very heavy . ` It is the heat , ' replied the Princess . ` I , too , have been feeling very warm . ' During the ball she looked everywhere for the gardener 's boy , but she never saw him . As they came back , Michael gathered a branch from the wood with the gold-spangled leaves , and now it was the eldest Princess who heard the noise that it made in breaking . ` It is nothing , ' said Lina ; ` only the cry of the owl which roosts in the turrets of the castle . ' XI As soon as she got up she found the branch in her bouquet . When the sisters went down she stayed a little behind and said to the cow-boy : ` Where does this branch come from ? ' ` Your Royal Highness knows well enough , ' answered Michael . ` So you have followed us ? ' ` Yes , Princess . ' ` How did you manage it ? we never saw you . ' ' I hid myself , ' replied the Star Gazer quietly . The Princess was silent a moment , and then said : ` You know our secret ! -- keep it . Here is the reward of your discretion . ' And she flung the boy a purse of gold . ' I do not sell my silence , ' answered Michael , and he went away without picking up the purse .
For three nights Lina neither saw nor heard anything extraordinary ; on the fourth she heard a rustling among the diamond-spangled leaves XXXXX the wood .
During as behind down for from of that to without