but there all had been grief and mourning since the day the king 's daughters had disappeared . and of them all the king and queen were the most sorrowful . then the youth went to the keeper of the door , and asked him whether he might play and show his dogs before the king . the courtiers were willing , for they hoped it might make him feel more cheerful . so he was admitted and allowed to show his tricks . and when the king had heard him play , and had seen the skillful dancing of his dogs , he grew quite merry , and none had seen him as happy during all the seven long years that had passed since he had lost his daughters .
merry .
how did the king feel when he heard the youth's playing and saw the skillful dancing of his dogs ?
how did the king feel when he heard the youth's playing and saw the skillful dancing of his dogs ?