Then she turned him round , and urging him to his fullest speed , never drew rein till she saw the gates of the palace rising before her . The old emperor , who had got back long since , came to the door to meet her , and touching her shining armour , he said , ` Did I not tell you , my child , that flies do not make honey ? ' The days passed on , and one morning the second princess implored her father to allow her to try the adventure in which her sister had made such a failure . He listened unwillingly , feeling sure it was no use , but she begged so hard that in the end he consented , and having chosen her arms , she rode away . But though , unlike her sister , she was quite prepared for the appearance of the wolf when she reached the copper bridge , she showed no greater courage , and galloped home as fast as her horse could carry her . On the steps of the castle her father was standing , and as still trembling with fright she knelt at his feet , he said gently , ` Did I not tell you , my child , that every bird is not caught in a net ? ' The three girls stayed quietly in the palace for a little while , embroidering , spinning , weaving , and tending their birds and flowers , when early one morning , the youngest princess entered the door of the emperor 's private apartments . ` My father , it is my turn now . Perhaps I shall get the better of that wolf ! ' ` What , do you think you are braver than your sisters , vain little one ? You who have hardly left your long clothes behind you ! ' but she did not mind being laughed at , and answered , ` For your sake , father , I would cut the devil himself into small bits , or even become a devil myself . I think I shall succeed , but if I fail , I shall come home without more shame than my sisters . ' Still the emperor hesitated , but the girl petted and coaxed him till at last he said , ` Well , well , if you must go , you must . It remains to be seen what I shall get by it , except perhaps a good laugh when I see you come back with your head bent and your eyes on the ground . ' ` He laughs best who laughs last , ' said the princess . Happy at having got her way , the princess decided that the first thing to be done was to find some old white-haired boyard , whose advice she could trust , and then to be very careful in choosing her horse . So she went straight to the stables where the most beautiful horses in the empire were feeding in the stalls , but none of them seemed quite what she wanted . Almost in despair she reached the last box of all , which was occupied by her father 's ancient war-horse , old and worn like himself , stretched sadly out on the straw . The girl 's eyes filled with tears , and she stood gazing at him .
The horse lifted his head , gave a little neigh , and said softly , ` You look gentle and pitiful , but I know it is your love for your XXXXX which makes you tender to me .
apartments arms father feet fright girls horses rein straw way