"Answer," said the princess, imperiously.
"I--want," stammered Dorothy, "to--take my grandmother out of--the
almshouse, and have her sit at the window in the sun in a cushioned
chair and knit a silk stocking all day."
"Anything else?"
"I should like to--have her wear a bombazine gown and a--white lace cap
with--lilac ribbons."
"You are a good girl," said the princess. "Now, listen. I see that you
are not very pleasantly situated here, and I will teach you a way to
escape. Take your hood off that peg over there, and come out with me. I
want to find my portmanteau that I left under the hedge, a little way
down the road."
Dorothy put on her hood and followed the princess down the road. The
little girl could scarcely keep up with her; she seemed to fairly fly
through the moonlight, trailing her gray robe after her.
"Here is my portmanteau," said the princess, when they had reached the
hedge. The hedge was all white hawthorn and very sweet. The portmanteau
had lain well under it. All Dorothy could see was a tiny leather wallet,
that a cat could carry in her mouth. But the princess blew upon it three
times, and suddenly a great leather trunk stood on the grass. The
princess opened it, and Dorothy gave a little cry, her eyes were so
dazzled. It was like a blaze of gold and silver and jewels. "Look at
this," said the princess. And she took out of the trunk the splendid
robe that was laid uppermost.
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