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He took this delay so much to heart, that he could neither eat nor sleep; meantime Désirée was little better she did nothing but look at the prince's portrait, and was exceedingly irritable with Longthorn and Gilliflower, her two maids of honour.
I do not wonder he has kept it shut up for fifteen years, and now he wishes to foist it upon us." And without taking any more notice of Longthorn, he and his son remounted each into his litter, and departed. Prince Warrior was so overcome by this unexpected affliction, that for a long time he did not speak a word.
In this carriage Désirée was placed, after most affecting adieus, by her father and mother; and with her were sent her maids of honour Longthorn and Gilliflower, and a lady-in-waiting, who was the mother of both.
Longthorn doubted not the prince would be already advancing to meet his bride, which was indeed the case; though he was so weak that he had to be conveyed in a litter, surrounded by courtiers and knights, who all wore splendid armour and green plumes, green being the favourite colour of the princess.
"King," said he to his father, "I am betrayed! this is not the lady whose portrait was sent me, and to whom I have plighted my faith; I have been deceived, and the deception will cost me my life." "What do I hear?" replied Longthorn, haughtily. "Prince, who has deceived you? you will be no victim in marrying me."
Longthorn immediately put on the garments of Désirée, and adorned herself with her royal mantle, her crown of diamonds, her sceptre of a single ruby, and the globe which she carried in her left hand, composed of one enormous pearl.
Now, Longthorn cared little for the princess, but she cared very much for Prince Warrior, whose portrait she had seen; and when the bridal train departed, she said to her mother that she should certainly die if this marriage were accomplished; so the mother, notwithstanding the confidence placed in her by queen, that she should watch over the princess, and carefully seclude her from daylight until she had reached the age of fifteen, yielded to her own child's persuasions, and determined to betray her trust.
The only persons who knew what had happened were Longthorn, her mother, and Gilliflower; but Gilliflower, overwhelmed with grief, had sprung out of the carriage after her beloved mistress; so the two others were left alone.
Seeing the two ladies so richly dressed, coming forward on foot and unattended, they dismounted, and respectfully greeted them. "May I inquire," said Longthorn, "who is in that litter?" "Madam," replied a knight, "it is the Prince Warrior, who comes to meet his betrothed, the Princess Désirée." "Tell him," said Longthorn, "that I am she.
So the bride and bridegroom returned to their capital, where the marriage was solemnized with all splendour, and, at Désirée's request, Longthorn and her mother, who had been imprisoned by the old king's order, were set free, with no further punishment than banishment to their own country, where they were to remain for life.
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