Inthenightthekingsentforhisyoungestdaughter，andasshedidnotcomehesentagain;butshedidnotcomeanythemoreforthat。Thequeen，whowasawitch，discoveredthatherdaughterhadgoneoffwiththeprince，andtoldherhusbandhemustleavehisbedandgoafterthem。Thekinggotslowlyup，groaningwithpain，anddraggedhimselftothestables，wherehesawtheleanhorsestillinhisstall。
Leapingonhisbackheshookthereins，andhisdaughter，whoknewwhattoexpectandhadhereyesopen，sawthehorsestartforward，andinthetwinklingofaneyechangedherownsteedintoacell，theprinceintoahermit，andherselfintoanun。
Whenthekingreachedthechapel，hepulleduphishorseandaskedifagirlandayoungmanhadpassedthatway。Thehermitraisedhiseyes，whichwerebentontheground，andsaidthathehadnotseenalivingcreature。Theking，muchdisgustedatthisnews，andnotknowingwhattodo，returnedhomeandtoldhiswifethat，thoughhehadriddenformiles，hehadcomeacrossnothingbutahermitandanuninacell。
’Whythoseweretherunaways，ofcourse，’shecried，flyingintoapassion，’andifyouhadonlybroughtascrapofthenun’sdress，orabitofstonefromthewall，Ishouldhavehadtheminmypower。’
Atthesewordsthekinghastenedbacktothestable，andbroughtouttheleanhorsewhotravelledquickerthanthought。Buthisdaughtersawhimcoming，andchangedherhorseintoaplotofground，herselfintoarose—treecoveredwithroses，andtheprinceintoagardener。Asthekingrodeup，thegardenerlookedupfromthetreewhichhewastrimmingandaskedifanythingwasthematter。’Haveyouseenayoungmanandagirlgoby？’saidtheking，andthegardenershookhisheadandrepliedthatnoonehadpassedthatwaysincehehadbeenworkingthere。Sothekingturnedhisstepshomewardsandtoldhiswife。