"'Alas! no,' repeated the Prince, 'the spell is but partly broken. I have only power to regain my natural form for three hours every evening after sunset. And for three years more must it be so. Then, if your goodness continues so long, all will indeed be right. But during that time it will be necessary for you to live alone, except for the three hours I can pass with you, in this enchanted palace of mine. No harm will befall you, all your wants will be supplied by invisible hands; but for a young and beautiful Princess like you, it will be a sad trial, and one that I feel I have no right to ask your consent to.' "'And can nothing be done?' said the Princess, 'nothing to shorten your endurance of the spell?' "'Nothing,' said the Prince, sadly. 'Any effort to do so would only cause fearful troubles. I drop my hated skin at sunset, but three hours later I must resume it.' "He glanced towards the corner of the room where, though the Princess had not before observed it, the brown bull's skin lay in a heap. "'Hateful thing!' said the Princess, clenching her pretty hands, 'I would like to burn it.' "The Prince grew pale with fright. 'Hush! Princess,' he said. 'Never breathe such words. Any rash act would have the most fearful consequences.' "'What?' said the Princess, curiously. "The Prince came nearer her and said in a low voice, 'For _me_ they would be such. In such a case I might too probably never see you more.' "The Princess blushed. Considering that he had spent ten years as a bull, it seemed to her that the Prince's manners were really not to be found fault with, and she promised him that she would consider the matter over, and by the next evening tell him her decision.