He had just time to replace it before the King, alarmed by the sound, came out followed by several servants. The Princess was carried into the palace and laid upon a couch, and, when many restoratives had been administered, she opened her eyes; but, on seeing her lover, an expression of terror came into her face and she fainted again. The Prince withdrew, asking the King to go with him. When the old man heard what had happened, he wrung his hands and begged him to refrain from seeing his daughter until the next morning; then he returned to her bedside, saying that he would come back on the following day and give him news of her. The Ugly Prince spent most of the night in walking up and down his room; the little boy, who had come to him as soon as he knew what had happened, did all he could to comfort him, and, at last, the unhappy lover fell into a heavy sleep with his hand clasped in that of the child, who refused to leave him, and who sat watching with his friend until he, too, became drowsy and lost consciousness. It was almost noon when they were aroused by the sound of footsteps, and, looking up, saw the King. “My son,” he said to the Prince, “I have come with weary tidings; my daughter has recovered; but early this morning she sent to me.” He paused for a moment, and went on in a shaking voice. “She implores you to release her from her promise to marry you. She will give no reason for what she asks, and when I suggested that she should speak to you herself, she grew so pale that I feared she would faint again. I reasoned with her, I prayed her to consider her words again, but all to no effect. I knew not how to act. She owes her very life to you. I would compel her to fulfil her promise if I could force myself to do so, but alas! alas! I cannot when I see her in such a state!” The Prince was standing before the weeping old man. “And do you think I would accept such a sacrifice?” he said, slowly. The King made no reply, but covered his face. There was a long silence. Then the Ugly Prince spoke, and his voice seemed to the little boy as though it were miles away. “Sire,” he said, “tell the Princess that my only wish is to serve her. I release her from this moment.” Then the King went slowly away, and, as the curtain fell behind him, the Ugly Prince was left alone with the little boy. He remembered what the Princess had told him when he took the Heart from her, and he knew that the time had come. * * * * * When the King’s subjects heard that the marriage was not to be, they were sorely troubled, and gloom fell over the Palace. The King refused to be comforted, and, when the Prince announced his coming departure, he begged for a last interview before he left. “What you have told me about the Golden Heart is very wonderful,” he said. “Could it be of no use now?” “Nothing can be of any use,” sighed the Prince. “It cannot alter my face.”