All this time, the old woman, who had sold her rose for the eye, was on her way to the Princess Mirza. But as she went along, the eye fell from her hand and was lost. She hunted for it a long time, but meanwhile the eye, apparently directed by the good fairies, made its way to the blind girl, who put it in its place and immediately she saw clearly. The old woman returned disconsolate. "Alas! my beautiful child," she exclaimed, weeping, "I sold your rose as you directed me, but, unfortunately, the eye I received as the price escaped from my hands and I could not find it, though I hunted for it far and wide." "Do not trouble yourself, my good woman," and Mirza smiled, and another rose fell from her lips. "Go," said she again, "and sell this flower on the same conditions." The rose was carried to the castle as the other had been, and sold for the other eye. The princess recovered her sight, and regained her beauty. Shortly afterward, the beautiful Mirza said to her companion: "Go into the towns and villages, and inquire by which road the king of this country goes on his hunting excursions." This order having been obeyed, the young princess sent for a number of workmen and an architect. On her way in search of these, the old woman met a little gray man who had a hump on his back. "Where are you going, Margaret?" cried the little hunchback. "I am hunting for workmen and for an architect," she replied. "I am your man," exclaimed the dwarf. "Are you capable?" asked the old woman. "Patience, Margaret! patience!" exclaimed the little gray man. "Of that you will have to judge later." Mirza accepted the dwarf as her architect, but she could not help saying to him: "Little gray man, where are your workmen? Do you think to build by yourself the palace I desire?" Scarcely had she finished speaking, when, at the sound of a low whistle from the little gray man, there appeared on all sides hundreds and thousands of brownies, who were cutting all sorts of antics and capers. Some jumped, some ran, some walked on their hands, and some floated in the air as light as thistle-down. But each of them, when he passed before the little gray man, said: "Your Majesty, what do you wish to-day of your faithful subjects?" To these questions the little gray man replied: "Make the most beautiful palace to be found in all the world." Mirza, the princess, was filled with astonishment. Never before had she seen so many brownies gathered together in one place, and she said to herself, "Surely these must be the children of the fairies;" and, full of happiness, she went here and there, speaking a kind word to all, and at every step she took hundreds of precious stones were scattered under her feet, and, at each smile a rose fell.