So in the evening he sought out Mellidora and found that she was a most beautiful and charming person, so much so that he lost his heart to her forthwith. “But I must do nothing in a hurry,” he said to himself. “After all, there is the other half of my aunt’s counsel to be considered. In any case, it would perhaps seem a little strange if I asked her to marry me quite so soon. We will see what happens to-morrow.” On the next day all the ladies and gentlemen who were staying in the castle were to go out riding in the early morning. The prince had slept late, and he stood for a moment at his window looking down on the courtyard, where there was a great bustling and prancing and making ready. Through the midst of all this an old peasant woman was making her way. She had a basket of eggs on her arm, and carefully laid on the top of it was a round flat cake, brown and spicy-looking, with a sugar heart in the middle of it, surrounded by pink and white sugar roses. She had made it for a birthday gift for the King’s son. But she was a little confused by all the bustle in the courtyard, and scurried hither and thither among the horses and people like a frightened hen. Presently one of the King’s servants pushed her out of the way. Her foot caught on the edge of a stone; she tripped and fell. The eggs rolled out of the basket. Plop! Plop! they went on the stones. There was a fine mess, and the beautiful cake lay in the midst of it, in fragments. The old woman was so vexed and upset that she forgot everything but the misfortune that had befallen her, and she stood in the middle of the courtyard surrounded by her broken eggs, scolding away at the top of her voice and shaking her old umbrella at the whole gay crowd. Everybody laughed; and indeed she was a rather comical sight as she stood there shouting and storming. Somebody threw her a gold piece, which was kindly meant. But a gold piece wouldn’t make her beautiful cake whole again. Presently the whole party rode away through the courtyard gates--all excepting one, and that one no other than Mellidora. She slipped down from her horse and went swiftly across to where the old woman sat upon the stone steps leading up to the big castle doors. All her anger was gone, but she looked the picture of misery. The prince could see how Mellidora stooped to pick up the broken cake and tried to put it together again, and how kindly she put her arm round the old woman’s shoulder, coaxing her with friendly words. And when presently he came down into the courtyard to see what more might be done, the sun shone upon Mellidora’s gentle face, and he saw that her eyes were full of tears. Then the prince knew that he had indeed found the one whom he sought, for here was a maiden who not only laughed when others cried, but who also cried when others laughed. The old woman was taken to the King’s son, where she was so kindly received that she forgot all her troubles. But the prince waited no longer.