'Have you got a looking-glass, my dear?' said he. 'Then run in and fetch it.'
She ran. He took it and looked in it. And he saw the same young brown face and the same bright brown hair that he had always known for _him_, and he was not old any more. And there was Joyce holding up a face as sweet as a bunch of flowers.
He stooped down and kissed the face that was so sweet.
And as they went along to his home he told her all the story.
'Well, but,' she said, 'you've got one wish-apple left.'
'Why, so I have,' said he; 'if I hadn't forgotten it!'
'We'll make that into the fortune you went out to find. Do, do let me look at it!'
He pulled out the apple, and she took it in her hand as she sat behind him on the big white horse.
'Yes, our fortune's made,' he said; 'but I do wish I knew why I turned old like that.'
Just then Invicta stumbled, and Joyce caught at her lover to save herself from falling, and as she caught at him the apple slipped from her hand and the last wish was granted. For as it bounced on the road Diggory did know why he had grown old like that. He knew that the magician had arranged long before that every wish-apple that was used outside the orchard should add ten years to the wisher's age. So that the eight horses had made him a hundred years old, and the spell could only be undone by the wisher's giving away what he'd wished for. So that it was Diggory's generosity in giving away the horses that had taken him back to the proper age for being happy in. I don't want to be moral, and I'm very sorry--but it really was that.
He carried Joyce home to his father's house. They were much too pleased with each other to bother about the wasted wish-apples.
'You're soon back, my son,' said the woodcutter, laughing.
And he presented Joyce. The woodcutter laughed more than ever, for the miller's daughter was a bit of an heiress.
So they were married, and they had a little farm, and the white horse was put to the plough, and to the cart, and the harrow, and the waggon; and he worked hard, and they worked hard, so that they all throve and were very happy as long as ever they lived.
Said Joyce one day to Diggory, 'How was it you wanted to take me with you directly you came back, and when you were going away you didn't.'