But even when she was there, he did not always succeed in finding her.

She, however, always knew that such a one had been looking for her.
Curdie went to find her one day.

As he ascended the last stair, to meet him came the well-known scent of her roses; and when he opened the door, lo! there was the same gorgeous room in which his touch had been glorified by her fire! And there burned the fire--a huge heap of red and white roses.

Before the hearth stood the princess, an old grey-haired woman, with Lina a little behind her, slowly wagging her tail, and looking like a beast of prey that can hardly so long restrain itself from springing as to be sure of its victim.

The queen was casting roses, more and more roses, upon the fire.