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 of the arbour . She held the pretty bird near her breast , and was just falling asleep , when the fairy contrived to restore the prince to his own shape , so that as Graziella opened her eyes she found herself in the arms of a lover whom she loved in return ! At the same moment her enchantment came to an end . The tower began to rock and to split . Bonnetta hurried up to the top so that she might at least perish with her dear princess .
Just as she reached the XXXXX , the kind fairy who had helped the prince arrived with the fairy Placida , in a car of Venetian glass drawn by six eagles .
bank case delight eyes garden kiss luck miniature return sun