that very moment the wood was alive with dwarfs , all of them asking with one voice : " what are my lord 's commands ? what are my lord 's commands ? " mike by the stove said he did not know he was their lord ; but if he had any command to give , he would ask them to bring him the fairest princess in twelve kingdoms . that would be easy enough , said the dwarfs ; they knew exactly who she was , and they could show him the way ; then he himself could go and fetch her , since the dwarfs were powerless to touch her . they showed him the way , and he reached his goal quickly and without trouble , for no one interfered with him . it was a troll 's castle , and in it were three beautiful princesses ; but when mike by the stove stepped in , they acted as though they had lost their wits , ran around like frightened lambs , and finally turned into three lemons that lay on the window - ledge . mike by the stove was in despair , and very unhappy because he did not know what to do . but after he had reflected a while , he took the three lemons , and put them in his pocket ; because , thought he , he might be glad he had done so should he grow thirsty during his journey , for he had heard that lemons were sour .
despair .
how did mike by the stove feel when the princesses turned into lemons ?
how did mike by the stove feel when the princesses turned into lemons ?