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Book, page 221 / 325 this had no effect upon the old woman, who only noticed all the uproar he was making by saying gently: 'You must have patience.' He could hear that she really was coming to open the door to him, only she was so very long about it. First she chased away her cat, lest it should run away when the door was opened, then he heard her talking to herself and made out that her lamp wanted trimming, that she might see better who it was that knocked, and then that it lacked fresh oil, and she must refill it. So what with one thing and another she was an immense time trotting to and fro, and all the while she now and again bade the Prince have patience. When at last he stood within the little hut he saw with despair that it was a picture of poverty, and that not a crumb of anything eatable was to be seen, and when he explained to the old woman that he was dying of hunger and fatigue she only answered tranquilly that he must have patience. However, she presently showed him a bundle of straw on which he could sleep. 'But what can I have to eat?' cried Prince Vivien sharply. 'Wait a little, wait a little,' she replied. 'If you will only have patience I am just going out into the garden to gather some peas: we will shell them at our leisure, then I will light a fire and cook them, and when they are thoroughly done, we can enjoy them peaceably; there is no hurry.' 'I shall have died of starvation by the time all that is done,' said the Prince ruefully. 'Patience, patience,' said the old woman looking at him with her slow gentle smile, 'I can't be hurried. "All things come at last to him who waits;" you must have heard that often.' Prince Vivien was wild with aggravation, but there was nothing to be done. 'Come then,' said the old woman, 'you shall hold the lamp to light me while I pick the peas.'
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