But he was not to be beaten , but flew carefully round the top of the tower till he came to one spot which , by some mistake , had not been enchanted like the rest . He quickly slipped into the arbour and waited for the princess . Before long Graziella appeared alone , and the pigeon at once fluttered to meet her , and seemed so tame that she stopped to caress the pretty creature . As she did so she saw it had a pink ribbon round its neck , and tied to the ribbon was a letter . She read it over several times and then wrote this answer : -- ` You say you love me ; but I can not promise to love you without seeing you . Send me your portrait by this faithful messenger . If I return it to you , you must give up hope ; but if I keep it you will know that to help me will be to help yourself . -- Graziella . ' Before flying back the pigeon remembered about the flower , so , seeing one in the princess 's dress , he stole it and flew away . The prince was wild with joy at the pigeon 's return with the note . After an hour 's rest the trusty little bird was sent back again , carrying a miniature of the prince , which by good luck he had with him . On reaching the tower the pigeon found the princess in the garden . She hastened to untie the ribbon , and on opening the miniature case what was her surprise and delight to find it very like the picture her governess had painted for her . She hastened to send the pigeon back , and you can fancy the prince 's joy when he found she had kept his portrait . ` Now , ' said the fairy , ` let us lose no more time . I can only make you happy by changing you into a bird , but I will take care to give you back your proper shape at the right time . ' The prince was eager to start , so the fairy , touching him with her wand , turned him into the loveliest humming-bird you ever saw , at the same time letting him keep the power of speech . The pigeon was told to show him the way . Graziella was much surprised to see a perfectly strange bird , and still more so when it flew to her saying , ` Good-morning , sweet princess . ' She was delighted with the pretty creature , and let him perch on her finger , when he said , ` Kiss , kiss , little birdie , ' which she gladly did , petting and stroking him at the same time .
After a time the princess , who had been up very early , grew tired , and as the sun was hot she went to lie down on a mossy bank in the shade XXXXX the arbour .
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