a16-第5章

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And　then　they　pressed　towards　her；　and　would　have　destroyed　the
coats　of　mail；　but　at　the　same　moment　eleven　wild　swans　flew　over　her；　and　alighted　on　the　cart。　Then　they　flapped　their　large　wings；　and　the　crowd　drew　on　one　side　in　alarm。

〃It　is　a　sign　from　heaven　that　she　is　innocent；〃　whispered　many　of
them；　but　they　ventured　not　to　say　it　aloud。

As　the　executioner　seized　her　by　the　hand；　to　lift　her　out　of
the　cart；　she　hastily　threw　the　eleven　coats　of　mail　over　the　swans；
and　they　immediately　became　eleven　handsome　princes；　but　the
youngest　had　a　swan's　wing；　instead　of　an　arm；　for　she　had　not　been
able　to　finish　the　last　sleeve　of　the　coat。

〃Now　I　may　speak；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　am　innocent。〃

Then　the　people；　who　saw　what　happened；　bowed　to　her；　as　before
a　saint；　but　she　sank　lifeless　in　her　brothers'　arms；　overcome　with
suspense；　anguish；　and　pain。

〃Yes；　she　is　innocent；〃　said　the　eldest　brother；　and　then　he
related　all　that　had　taken　place；　and　while　he　spoke　there　rose　in　the
air　a　fragrance　as　from　millions　of　roses。　Every　piece　of　faggot　in
the　pile　had　taken　root；　and　threw　out　branches；　and　appeared　a
thick　hedge；　large　and　high；　covered　with　roses；　while　above　all
bloomed　a　white　and　shining　flower；　that　glittered　like　a　star。　This
flower　the　king　plucked；　and　placed　in　Eliza's　bosom；　when　she　awoke　from　her　swoon；　with　peace　and　happiness　in　her　heart。　And　all　the　church　bells　rang　of　themselves；　and　the　birds　came　in　great　troops。

And　a　marriage　procession　returned　to　the　castle；　such　as　no　king
had　ever　before　seen。

THE　END

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Written　By　Anderson