travellingpanions； shall we not drink to our good fellowship； and say theeand thou to each other？〃
〃What you say is very straightforward and kindly meant；〃 saidthe shadow； who was now really master。 〃I will be equally kind andstraightforward。 You are a learned man； and know how wonderful humannature is。 There are some men who cannot endure the smell of brownpaper； it makes them ill。 Others will feel a shuddering sensation totheir very marrow； if a nail is scratched on a pane of glass。 I myselfhave a similar kind of feeling when I hear any one say thou to me。 Ifeel crushed by it； as I used to feel in my former position withyou。 You will perceive that this is a matter of feeling； not pride。I cannot allow you to say thou to me； I will gladly say it to you； andtherefore your wish will be half fulfilled。〃 Then the shadow addressedhis former master as thou。
〃It is going rather too far；〃 said the latter； 〃that I am to sayyou when I speak to him； and he is to say thou to me。〃 However； he wasobliged to submit。
They arrived at length at the baths； where there were manystrangers； and among them a beautiful princess； whose real diseaseconsisted in being too sharp…sighted； which made every one veryuneasy。 She saw at once that the new er was very different to everyone else。 〃They say he is here to make his beard grow；〃 she thought；〃but I know the real cause； he is unable to cast a shadow。〃 Then shebecame very curious on the matter； and one day； while on thepromenade； she entered into conversation with the strange gentleman。Being a princess； she was not obliged to stand upon much ceremony；so she said to him without hesitation； 〃Your illness consists in notbeing able to cast a shadow。〃
〃Your royal highness must be on the high road to recovery fromyour illness；〃 said he。 〃I know your plaint arose from being toosharp…sighted； and in this case it has entirely failed。 I happen tohave a most unusual shadow。 Have you not seen a person who is alwaysat my side？ Persons often give their servants finer cloth for theirliveries than for their own clothes； and so I have dressed out myshadow like a man； nay； you may observe that I have even given him ashadow of his own； it is rather expensive； but I like to have thingsabout me that are peculiar。〃
〃How is this？〃 thought the princess； 〃am I really cured？ This mustbe the best watering…place in existence。 Water in our times hascertainly wonderful power。 But I will not leave this place yet； justas it begins to be amusing。 This foreign prince… for he must be aprince… pleases me above all things。 I only hope his beard won't grow；or he will leave at once。〃
In the evening； the princess and the shadow danced together in thelarge assembly rooms。 She was light； but he was lighter still； she hadnever seen such a dancer before。 She told him from what country shehad e； and found he knew it and had been there； but not while shewas at home。 He had looked into the windows of her father's palace；both the upper and the lower windows； he had seen many things； andcould therefore answer the princess； and make allusions which quiteastonished her。 She thought he must be the cleverest man in all theworld； and felt the greatest respect for his knowledge。 When shedanced with him again she fell in love with him； which the shadowquickly discovered； for she had with her eyes looked him through andthrough。 They danced once more； and she was nearly telling him； butshe had some discretion； she thought of her country； her kingdom；and the number of people over whom she would one day have to rule。 〃Heis a clever man；〃 she thought to herself； 〃which is a good thing；and he dances admirably； which is also good。 But has hewell…grounded knowledge？ that is an important question； and I must tryhim。〃 Then she asked him a most difficult question； she herselfcould not have answered it； and the shadow made a most unaccountablegrimace。
〃You cannot answer that；〃 said the princess。
〃I learnt something about it in my childhood；〃 he replied； 〃andbelieve that even my very shadow； standing over there by the door；could answer it。〃
〃Your shadow；〃 said the princess； 〃indeed that would be veryremarkable。〃
〃I do not say so positively；〃 observed the shadow； 〃but I aminclined to believe that he can do so。 He has followed me for somany years； and has heard so much from me； that I think it is verylikely。 But your royal highness must allow me to observe； that he isvery proud of being considered a man； and to put him in a goodhumor； so that he may answer correctly； he must be treated as a man。〃
〃I shall be very pleased to do so；〃 said the princess。 So shewalked up to the learned man； who stood in the doorway； and spoke tohim of the sun； and the moon； of the green forests； and of people nearhome and far off； and the learned man conversed with her pleasantlyand sensibly。
〃What a wonderful man he must be； to have such a clever shadow！〃thought she。 〃If I were to choose him it would be a real blessing tomy country and my subjects； and I will do it。〃 So the princess and theshadow were soon engaged to each other； but no one was to be told aword about it； till she returned to her kingdom。
〃No one shall know；〃 said the shadow； 〃not even my own shadow；〃and he had very particular reasons for saying so。
After a time； the princess returned to the land over which shereigned； and the shadow acpanied her。
〃Listen my friend；〃 said the shadow to the learned man； 〃nowthat I am as fortunate and as powerful as any man can be； I will dosomething unusually good for you。 You shall live in my palace； drivewith me in the royal carriage； and have a hundred thousand dollars ayear； but you must allow every one to call you a shadow； and neverventure to say that you have been a man。 And once a year； when I sitin my balcony in the sunshine； you must lie at my feet as bees ashadow to do； for I must tell you I am going to marry the princess；and our wedding will take place this evening。〃
〃Now； really； this is too ridiculous；〃 said the learned man。 〃Icannot； and will not； submit to such folly。 It would be cheating thewhole country； and the princess also。 I will disclose everything；and say that I am the man； and that you are only a shadow dressed upin men's clothes。〃
〃No one would believe you；〃 said the shadow； 〃be reasonable；now； or I will call the guards。〃
〃I will go straight to the princess；〃 said the learned man。
〃But I shall be there first；〃 replied the shadow； 〃and you will besent to prison。〃 And so it turned out； for the guards readily obeyedhim； as they knew he was going to marry the king's daughter。
〃You tremble；〃 said the princess； when the shadow appearedbefore her。 〃Has anything happened？ You must not be ill to…day； forthis evening our wedding will take place。〃
〃I have gone through the most terrible affair that couldpossibly happen；〃 said the shadow； 〃only imagine； my shadow has gonemad； I suppose such a poor； shallow brain； could not bear much； hefancies that he has bee a real man； and that I am his shadow。〃
〃How very terrible；〃 cried the princess； 〃is he locked up？〃
〃Oh yes； certainly； for I fear he will never recover。〃
〃Poor shadow！〃 said the princess； 〃it is very unfortunate for him；it would really be a good deed to free him