Nevertheless, the seven years had gone by with him as if they were six months. The Cat asked him if he would like to see her horses?
Then she opened the door of the small house. And when she had opened it, there stood twelve horses,--such horses, so bright and shining, that his heart rejoiced at the sight of them.
And now she gave him to eat and to drink, and said, “Go home. I will not give you your horse to take away with you. But in three days’ time, I will follow you and bring it.”
So Hans set out, and she showed him the way to the mill. She had, however, never once given him a new coat, and he had been obliged to keep on his dirty old smock-frock, which he had brought with him, and which during the seven years had everywhere become too small for him.
When he reached home, the two other apprentices were there again, and each of them certainly had brought a horse with him. But one of them was blind and the other lame. They asked Hans where his horse was.
Then they laughed and said, “Indeed, stupid Hans! where will you get a horse? It will be a fine one!”
Hans went into the parlor, but the miller said he should not sit down to table for he was so ragged and torn, that they would all be ashamed of him if any one came in. So they gave him a mouthful of food outside.
At night, when they went to rest, the two others would not let him have a bed, and at last he was forced to creep into the goose-house, and lie down on a little hard straw.
In the morning, when he awoke, the three days had passed, and a coach came with six horses and they shone so bright that it was delightful to see them!--and a servant brought a seventh as well, which was for the poor miller’s boy.
And a magnificent Princess alighted from the coach, and went into the mill. And this Princess was the little Tabby-Cat whom poor Hans had served for seven years.
She asked the miller where the miller’s boy and drudge was.
Then the miller said, “We will not have him here in the mill, he is so ragged. He is lying in the goose-house.”
Then the King’s Daughter said that they were to fetch him immediately.
So they brought him; and he had to hold his little smock together to cover himself.
Her servants unpacked splendid garments, and washed him and dressed him. And when it was done, no King could have looked more handsome.