The Prince began to think he must be dreaming, when the door opened,
and a lovely little White Cat came in. She wore a long black veil, and
was accompanied by a number of cats, dressed in black, and carrying
swords.
She came straight up to the Prince, and in a sweet, sad little voice
bade him welcome. Then she ordered supper to be served, and the whole
company sat down together.
They were waited upon by the mysterious hands, but many of the
dishes were not to the Prince's liking. Stewed rats and mice may be a
first-rate meal for a cat, but the Prince did not feel inclined to try
them.
However, the White Cat ordered the hands to serve the Prince with the
dishes he liked best, and at once, without his even mentioning his
favorite food, he was supplied with every dainty he could think of.
After the Prince had satisfied his hunger, he noticed that the Cat
wore a bracelet upon her paw, in which was set a miniature of himself;
but when he questioned her about it, she sighed, and seemed so sad
that, like a well-behaved Prince, he said no more about the matter.
Soon after supper, the hands conducted him to bed, when he at once
fell fast asleep, and did not awaken until late the next morning.
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