“I thank you, beautiful Cat,” said the Prince; “but what good
will it do me to get back if I have not a dog to take to my
father?”
“See here,” answered the White Cat, holding up an acorn; “there
is a prettier one in this than in the Dogstar!”
“Oh! White Cat dear,” said the Prince, “how unkind you are
to laugh at me now!”
“Only listen,” she said, holding the acorn to his ear.
And inside it he distinctly heard a tiny voice say:
“Bow-wow!”
The Prince was delighted, for a dog that can be shut up in an
acorn must be very small indeed. He wanted to take it out and
look at it, but the White Cat said it would be better not to open
the acorn till he was before the King, in case the tiny dog should
be cold on the journey. He thanked her a thousand times, and
said good-by quite sad
