John kissed the good old king's hand, and said he was sure
it would be all right, for he was quite enchanted with the
beautiful princess. Then the princess herself came riding into the
palace yard with all her ladies, and he wished her "Good morning."
She looked wonderfully fair and lovely when she offered her hand to
John, and he loved her more than ever. How could she be a wicked
witch, as all the people asserted? He accompanied her into the
hall, and the little pages offered them gingerbread nuts and
sweetmeats, but the old king was so unhappy he could eat nothing,
and besides, gingerbread nuts were too hard for him. It was decided
that John should come to the palace the next day, when the judges
and the whole of the counsellors would be present, to try if he
could guess the
