J. F. Campbell Collection > Fireside stories of Ireland

84 THE FIRESIDE STORIES OF IRELAND.
she was in a fever like; slie threw off her outside dress, and
she stepped out into the lawn to get a little fresh air. There
what did she behold but her dear filly under a tree. She
ran over, and threw her arms round her neck, and kissed
her face, and began to cry. ^'iSTo time for crying !" says
the filly. " Take out the first walnut shell you got." She
did so, and opened it. " Hold what's inside over your head,"
said the other, and in a moment the silk and silver dress
wrapped her round as if a dozen manty-mahers were after
spending an hour about it. " Get on that stump," says the
filly, " and jump into the side-saddle." She did so, and in
a few minutes they were at the hall door of the castle where
the ball was. There she sprung from her saddle, and walked
into the hall. Lights were in the hall and everywhere,
and nothing could equal the glitter of the princess's robes
and the accoutrements of her steed. It was like the curling
of a stream in the sun.
You may believe that the quality were taken by surprise,
when the princess walked in among them as if they were
the lords and ladies in her father's court. The young king
came forward as he saw the rest were a little cowed, and
bade her good evening and welcome ; and they talked what-
ever way kings and queens and princesses do, and he made
her sit on his own seat of honour, and took a stool or a
chair near her, and if he wasn't delighted and surjirised, her
features were so like the scullery maid's, leave it till again.
They had a fine supper and a dance, and the prince and
she danced, and every minute his love for her was increas-
ing, but at last she said she should go. Every one was
sorry, and the prince more than anyone, and he came "vvith
her to the hall, and asked might he see her safe home. But
she showed him her filly and excused herself. Said he,
" ITl have my brown horse brought, and myself and my
servants vdW. attend you." " Hand me up on my filly,"
says she, " first of all," and, be_ th e laws. I don't know ho w
princes p ut princesses ~on horseback. _Maybe one of th e
servants stoops his"back^aiicLt]ie prince goe s on one knee ,
aiid~sEe steps first on his Jmee an d then on the servant's
Tacg^cl^then_sits in the saddle. Aiiyhow she was safe up,
and she took the prince's hand, and bid him good night, and