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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old-Time Stories, by Charles Perrault
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Old-Time Stories
+
+Author: Charles Perrault
+
+Illustrator: W. Heath Robinson
+
+Translator: A. E. Johnson
+
+Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31431]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD-TIME STORIES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Chris Curnow, Iris Gehring and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+OLD-TIME STORIES
+
+[Illustration: "THEY REACHED THE HOUSE WHERE THE LIGHT WAS BURNING."]
+
+
+
+
+OLD-TIME STORIES
+
+  _told by_
+
+MASTER CHARLES PERRAULT
+
+  _translated from
+  the French by
+  A·E·Johnson
+  with illustrations
+  by_
+
+W·HEATH ROBINSON
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+  NEW YORK
+  DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
+
+
+
+
+
+_First Published, 1921_
+
+_Printed in Great Britain_
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFATORY NOTE
+
+
+Of the eleven tales which the present volume comprises, the first eight
+are from the master-hand of Charles Perrault. Charles Perrault
+(1628-1703) enjoyed much distinction in his day, and is familiar to
+students of French literature for the prominent part that he played in
+the famous _Quarrel of the Ancients and Moderns_, which so keenly
+occupied French men of letters in the latter part of the seventeenth
+century. But his fame to-day rests upon his authorship of the
+traditional _Tales of Mother Goose; or Stories of Olden Times_, and so
+long as there are children to listen spellbound to the adventures of
+Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, and that arch rogue Puss in Boots, his
+memory will endure.
+
+To the eight tales of Perrault three others have been added here.
+'Beauty and the Beast,' by Mme Leprince de Beaumont (1711-1781), has a
+celebrity which warrants its inclusion, however inferior it may seem, as
+an example of the story-teller's art, to the masterpieces of Perrault.
+'Princess Rosette' and 'The Friendly Frog' are from the prolific pen of
+Mme d'Aulnoy (1650-1705), a contemporary of Perrault, whom she could
+sometimes rival in invention, if never in dramatic power.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+
+
+
+  CONTENTS
+
+
+                                                                   PAGE
+
+  THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD                                     1
+
+  PUSS IN BOOTS                                                      21
+
+  LITTLE TOM THUMB                                                   34
+
+  THE FAIRIES                                                        55
+
+  RICKY OF THE TUFT                                                  61
+
+  CINDERELLA                                                         75
+
+  LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD                                             92
+
+  BLUE BEARD                                                         99
+
+  BEAUTY AND THE BEAST                                              113
+
+  THE FRIENDLY FROG                                                 138
+
+  PRINCESS ROSETTE                                                  174
+
+
+
+
+  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+  COLOURED PLATES
+
+  'They reached the house where the light was burning'
+        (see page 41)                                     _Frontispiece_
+
+                                                            FACING PAGE
+
+  'The most beautiful sight he had ever seen'                        16
+
+  'All that remained for the youngest was the cat'                   21
+
+  '"You must die, madam," he said'                                   99
+
+  'Every evening the Beast paid her a visit'                        130
+
+  '"Could your father but see you, my poor child"'                  152
+
+
+  BLACK-AND-WHITE ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+                                                                   PAGE
+
+  'The king ... at once published an edict'                           3
+
+  'A little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots'               7
+
+  'The king's son chanced to go a-hunting'                           10
+
+  'All asleep'                                                       12
+
+  'They all fell asleep'                                             13
+
+  'As though he were dead'                                           23
+
+  'The cat went on ahead'                                            26
+
+  Puss in Boots                                                      27
+
+  'Puss became a personage of great importance'                      31
+
+  'A good dame opened the door'                                      37
+
+  'He could smell fresh flesh'                                       43
+
+  'He set off over the countryside'                                  47
+
+  'Laden with all the ogre's wealth'                                 51
+
+  'Lifting up the jug so that she might drink the more easily'       57
+
+  'She could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece without
+     breaking one of them'                                           63
+
+  'Graceful and easy conversation'                                   65
+
+  Ricky of the Tuft                                                  71
+
+  'The haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been seen'           77
+
+  'Her godmother found her in tears'                                 81
+
+  'Away she went'                                                    83
+
+  'She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn'                            85
+
+  'They tried it first on the princesses'                            89
+
+  Little Red Riding Hood                                             93
+
+  'She met old Father Wolf'                                          95
+
+  'Making nosegays of the wild flowers'                              96
+
+  'Come up on the bed with me'                                       97
+
+  Blue Beard                                                        101
+
+  'She washed it well'                                              104
+
+  Sister Anne                                                       105
+
+  'Brandishing the cutlass aloft'                                   109
+
+  'At first she found it very hard'                                 115
+
+  '"Look at our little sister"'                                     117
+
+  'It was snowing horribly'                                         119
+
+  The Beast                                                         122
+
+  '"Your doom is to become statues"'                                135
+
+  'The approach to it was by ten thousand steps'                    143
+
+  The Friendly Frog                                                 146
+
+  'The journey lasted seven years'                                  155
+
+  Princess Rosette                                                  179
+
+  The wicked nurse                                                  186
+
+  'She was an ugly little fright'                                   189
+
+  'She floated hither and thither'                                  194
+
+  'A kindly old man'                                                195
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+
+
+
+THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who were grieved, more
+grieved than words can tell, because they had no children. They tried
+the waters of every country, made vows and pilgrimages, and did
+everything that could be done, but without result. At last, however, the
+queen found that her wishes were fulfilled, and in due course she gave
+birth to a daughter.
+
+A grand christening was held, and all the fairies that could be found in
+the realm (they numbered seven in all) were invited to be godmothers to
+the little princess. This was done so that by means of the gifts which
+each in turn would bestow upon her (in accordance with the fairy custom
+of those days) the princess might be endowed with every imaginable
+perfection.
+
+When the christening ceremony was over, all the company returned to the
+king's palace, where a great banquet was held in honour of the fairies.
+Places were laid for them in magnificent style, and before each was
+placed a solid gold casket containing a spoon, fork, and knife of fine
+gold, set with diamonds and rubies. But just as all were sitting down to
+table an aged fairy was seen to enter, whom no one had thought to
+invite--the reason being that for more than fifty years she had never
+quitted the tower in which she lived, and people had supposed her to be
+dead or bewitched.
+
+By the king's orders a place was laid for her, but it was impossible to
+give her a golden casket like the others, for only seven had been made
+for the seven fairies. The old creature believed that she was
+intentionally slighted, and muttered threats between her teeth.
+
+She was overheard by one of the young fairies, who was seated near by.
+The latter, guessing that some mischievous gift might be bestowed upon
+the little princess, hid behind the tapestry as soon as the company left
+the table. Her intention was to be the last to speak, and so to have the
+power of counteracting, as far as possible, any evil which the old fairy
+might do.
+
+Presently the fairies began to bestow their gifts upon the princess. The
+youngest ordained that she should be the most beautiful person in the
+world; the next, that she should have the temper of an angel; the third,
+that she should do everything with wonderful grace; the fourth, that she
+should dance to perfection; the fifth, that she should sing like a
+nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play every kind of music
+with the utmost skill.
+
+It was now the turn of the aged fairy. Shaking her head, in token of
+spite rather than of infirmity, she declared that the princess should
+prick her hand with a spindle, and die of it. A shudder ran through the
+company at this terrible gift. All eyes were filled with tears.
+
+But at this moment the young fairy stepped forth from behind the
+tapestry.
+
+'Take comfort, your Majesties,' she cried in a loud voice; 'your
+daughter shall not die. My power, it is true, is not enough to undo all
+that my aged kinswoman has decreed: the princess will indeed prick her
+hand with a spindle. But instead of dying she shall merely fall into
+a profound slumber that will last a hundred years. At the end of that
+time a king's son shall come to awaken her.'
+
+[Illustration: '_The king ... at once published an edict_']
+
+The king, in an attempt to avert the unhappy doom pronounced by the old
+fairy, at once published an edict forbidding all persons, under pain of
+death, to use a spinning-wheel or keep a spindle in the house.
+
+At the end of fifteen or sixteen years the king and queen happened one
+day to be away, on pleasure bent. The princess was running about the
+castle, and going upstairs from room to room she came at length to a
+garret at the top of a tower, where an old serving-woman sat alone with
+her distaff, spinning. This good woman had never heard speak of the
+king's proclamation forbidding the use of spinning-wheels.
+
+'What are you doing, my good woman?' asked the princess.
+
+'I am spinning, my pretty child,' replied the dame, not knowing who she
+was.
+
+'Oh, what fun!' rejoined the princess; 'how do you do it? Let me try and
+see if I can do it equally well.'
+
+Partly because she was too hasty, partly because she was a little
+heedless, but also because the fairy decree had ordained it, no sooner
+had she seized the spindle than she pricked her hand and fell down in a
+swoon.
+
+In great alarm the good dame cried out for help. People came running
+from every quarter to the princess. They threw water on her face, chafed
+her with their hands, and rubbed her temples with the royal essence of
+Hungary. But nothing would restore her.
+
+Then the king, who had been brought upstairs by the commotion,
+remembered the fairy prophecy. Feeling certain that what had happened
+was inevitable, since the fairies had decreed it, he gave orders that
+the princess should be placed in the finest apartment in the palace,
+upon a bed embroidered in gold and silver.
+
+You would have thought her an angel, so fair was she to behold. The
+trance had not taken away the lovely colour of her complexion. Her
+cheeks were delicately flushed, her lips like coral. Her eyes, indeed,
+were closed, but her gentle breathing could be heard, and it was
+therefore plain that she was not dead. The king commanded that she
+should be left to sleep in peace until the hour of her awakening should
+come.
+
+When the accident happened to the princess, the good fairy who had saved
+her life by condemning her to sleep a hundred years was in the kingdom
+of Mataquin, twelve thousand leagues away. She was instantly warned of
+it, however, by a little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots,
+which are boots that enable one to cover seven leagues at a single step.
+The fairy set off at once, and within an hour her chariot of fire, drawn
+by dragons, was seen approaching.
+
+The king handed her down from her chariot, and she approved of all that
+he had done. But being gifted with great powers of foresight, she
+bethought herself that when the princess came to be awakened, she would
+be much distressed to find herself all alone in the old castle. And this
+is what she did.
+
+[Illustration: '_A little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots_']
+
+She touched with her wand everybody (except the king and queen) who was
+in the castle--governesses, maids of honour, ladies-in-waiting,
+gentlemen, officers, stewards, cooks, scullions, errand boys, guards,
+porters, pages, footmen. She touched likewise all the horses in the
+stables, with their grooms, the big mastiffs in the courtyard, and
+little Puff, the pet dog of the princess, who was lying on the bed
+beside his mistress. The moment she had touched them they all fell
+asleep, to awaken only at the same moment as their mistress. Thus they
+would always be ready with their service whenever she should require it.
+The very spits before the fire, loaded with partridges and pheasants,
+subsided into slumber, and the fire as well. All was done in a moment,
+for the fairies do not take long over their work.
+
+Then the king and queen kissed their dear child, without waking her, and
+left the castle. Proclamations were issued, forbidding any approach to
+it, but these warnings were not needed, for within a quarter of an hour
+there grew up all round the park so vast a quantity of trees big and
+small, with interlacing brambles and thorns, that neither man nor beast
+could penetrate them. The tops alone of the castle towers could be seen,
+and these only from a distance. Thus did the fairy's magic contrive that
+the princess, during all the time of her slumber, should have nought
+whatever to fear from prying eyes.
+
+At the end of a hundred years the throne had passed to another family
+from that of the sleeping princess. One day the king's son chanced to go
+a-hunting that way, and seeing in the distance some towers in the midst
+of a large and dense forest, he asked what they were. His attendants
+told him in reply the various stories which they had heard. Some said
+there was an old castle haunted by ghosts, others that all the witches
+of the neighbourhood held their revels there. The favourite tale was
+that in the castle lived an ogre, who carried thither all the children
+whom he could catch. There he devoured them at his leisure, and since he
+was the only person who could force a passage through the wood nobody
+had been able to pursue him.
+
+[Illustration: '_The king's son chanced to go a-hunting_']
+
+While the prince was wondering what to believe, an old peasant took up
+the tale.
+
+'Your Highness,' said he, 'more than fifty years ago I heard my father
+say that in this castle lies a princess, the most beautiful that has
+ever been seen. It is her doom to sleep there for a hundred years, and
+then to be awakened by a king's son, for whose coming she waits.'
+
+This story fired the young prince. He jumped immediately to the
+conclusion that it was for him to see so gay an adventure through, and
+impelled alike by the wish for love and glory, he resolved to set about
+it on the spot.
+
+Hardly had he taken a step towards the wood when the tall trees, the
+brambles and the thorns, separated of themselves and made a path for
+him. He turned in the direction of the castle, and espied it at the end
+of a long avenue. This avenue he entered, and was surprised to notice
+that the trees closed up again as soon as he had passed, so that none of
+his retinue were able to follow him. A young and gallant prince is
+always brave, however; so he continued on his way, and presently reached
+a large fore-court.
+
+The sight that now met his gaze was enough to fill him with an icy fear.
+The silence of the place was dreadful, and death seemed all about him.
+The recumbent figures of men and animals had all the appearance of being
+lifeless, until he perceived by the pimply noses and ruddy faces of the
+porters that they merely slept. It was plain, too, from their glasses,
+in which were still some dregs of wine, that they had fallen asleep
+while drinking.
+
+The prince made his way into a great courtyard, paved with marble, and
+mounting the staircase entered the guardroom. Here the guards were lined
+up on either side in two ranks, their muskets on their shoulders,
+snoring their hardest. Through several apartments crowded with ladies
+and gentlemen in waiting, some seated, some standing, but all asleep, he
+pushed on, and so came at last to a chamber which was decked all over
+with gold. There he encountered the most beautiful sight he had ever
+seen. Reclining upon a bed, the curtains of which on every side were
+drawn back, was a princess of seemingly some fifteen or sixteen summers,
+whose radiant beauty had an almost unearthly lustre.
+
+[Illustration: '_All asleep_']
+
+Trembling in his admiration he drew near and went on his knees beside
+her. At the same moment, the hour of disenchantment having come, the
+princess awoke, and bestowed upon him a look more tender than a first
+glance might seem to warrant.
+
+'Is it you, dear prince?' she said; 'you have been long in coming!'
+
+Charmed by these words, and especially by the manner in which they were
+said, the prince scarcely knew how to express his delight and
+gratification. He declared that he loved her better than he loved
+himself. His words were faltering, but they pleased the more for that.
+The less there is of eloquence, the more there is of love.
+
+Her embarrassment was less than his, and that is not to be wondered at,
+since she had had time to think of what she would say to him. It seems
+(although the story says nothing about it) that the good fairy had
+beguiled her long slumber with pleasant dreams. To be brief, after four
+hours of talking they had not succeeded in uttering one half of the
+things they had to say to each other.
+
+[Illustration: '_They all fell asleep_']
+
+Now the whole palace had awakened with the princess. Every one went
+about his business, and since they were not all in love they presently
+began to feel mortally hungry. The lady-in-waiting, who was suffering
+like the rest, at length lost patience, and in a loud voice called out
+to the princess that supper was served.
+
+The princess was already fully dressed, and in most magnificent style.
+As he helped her to rise, the prince refrained from telling her that her
+clothes, with the straight collar which she wore, were like those to
+which his grandmother had been accustomed. And in truth, they in no way
+detracted from her beauty.
+
+They passed into an apartment hung with mirrors, and were there served
+with supper by the stewards of the household, while the fiddles and
+oboes played some old music--and played it remarkably well, considering
+they had not played at all for just upon a hundred years. A little
+later, when supper was over, the chaplain married them in the castle
+chapel, and in due course, attended by the courtiers in waiting, they
+retired to rest.
+
+They slept but little, however. The princess, indeed, had not much need
+of sleep, and as soon as morning came the prince took his leave of her.
+He returned to the city, and told his father, who was awaiting him with
+some anxiety, that he had lost himself while hunting in the forest, but
+had obtained some black bread and cheese from a charcoal-burner, in
+whose hovel he had passed the night. His royal father, being of an
+easy-going nature, believed the tale, but his mother was not so easily
+hoodwinked. She noticed that he now went hunting every day, and that he
+always had an excuse handy when he had slept two or three nights from
+home. She felt certain, therefore, that he had some love affair.
+
+Two whole years passed since the marriage of the prince and princess,
+and during that time they had two children. The first, a daughter, was
+called 'Dawn,' while the second, a boy, was named 'Day,' because he
+seemed even more beautiful than his sister.
+
+Many a time the queen told her son that he ought to settle down in life.
+She tried in this way to make him confide in her, but he did not dare to
+trust her with his secret. Despite the affection which he bore her, he
+was afraid of his mother, for she came of a race of ogres, and the king
+had only married her for her wealth.
+
+It was whispered at the Court that she had ogrish instincts, and that
+when little children were near her she had the greatest difficulty in
+the world to keep herself from pouncing on them.
+
+No wonder the prince was reluctant to say a word.
+
+But at the end of two years the king died, and the prince found himself
+on the throne. He then made public announcement of his marriage, and
+went in state to fetch his royal consort from her castle. With her two
+children beside her she made a triumphal entry into the capital of her
+husband's realm.
+
+Some time afterwards the king declared war on his neighbour, the Emperor
+Cantalabutte. He appointed the queen-mother as regent in his absence,
+and entrusted his wife and children to her care.
+
+[Illustration: "THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT HE HAD EVER SEEN."]
+
+He expected to be away at the war for the whole of the summer, and as
+soon as he was gone the queen-mother sent her daughter-in-law and the
+two children to a country mansion in the forest. This she did that
+she might be able the more easily to gratify her horrible longings. A
+few days later she went there herself, and in the evening summoned the
+chief steward.
+
+'For my dinner to-morrow,' she told him, 'I will eat little Dawn.'
+
+'Oh, Madam!' exclaimed the steward.
+
+'That is my will,' said the queen; and she spoke in the tones of an ogre
+who longs for raw meat.
+
+'You will serve her with piquant sauce,' she added.
+
+The poor man, seeing plainly that it was useless to trifle with an
+ogress, took his big knife and went up to little Dawn's chamber. She was
+at that time four years old, and when she came running with a smile to
+greet him, flinging her arms round his neck and coaxing him to give her
+some sweets, he burst into tears, and let the knife fall from his hand.
+
+Presently he went down to the yard behind the house, and slaughtered a
+young lamb. For this he made so delicious a sauce that his mistress
+declared she had never eaten anything so good.
+
+At the same time the steward carried little Dawn to his wife, and bade
+the latter hide her in the quarters which they had below the yard.
+
+Eight days later the wicked queen summoned her steward again.
+
+'For my supper,' she announced, 'I will eat little Day.'
+
+The steward made no answer, being determined to trick her as he had done
+previously. He went in search of little Day, whom he found with a tiny
+foil in his hand, making brave passes--though he was but three years
+old--at a big monkey. He carried him off to his wife, who stowed him
+away in hiding with little Dawn. To the ogress the steward served up, in
+place of Day, a young kid so tender that she found it surpassingly
+delicious.
+
+So far, so good. But there came an evening when this evil queen again
+addressed the steward.
+
+'I have a mind,' she said, 'to eat the queen with the same sauce as you
+served with her children.'
+
+This time the poor steward despaired of being able to practise another
+deception. The young queen was twenty years old, without counting the
+hundred years she had been asleep. Her skin, though white and beautiful,
+had become a little tough, and what animal could he possibly find that
+would correspond to her? He made up his mind that if he would save his
+own life he must kill the queen, and went upstairs to her apartment
+determined to do the deed once and for all. Goading himself into a rage
+he drew his knife and entered the young queen's chamber, but a
+reluctance to give her no moment of grace made him repeat respectfully
+the command which he had received from the queen-mother.
+
+'Do it! do it!' she cried, baring her neck to him; 'carry out the order
+you have been given! Then once more I shall see my children, my poor
+children that I loved so much!'
+
+Nothing had been said to her when the children were stolen away, and she
+believed them to be dead.
+
+The poor steward was overcome by compassion. 'No, no, Madam,' he
+declared; 'you shall not die, but you shall certainly see your children
+again. That will be in my quarters, where I have hidden them. I shall
+make the queen eat a young hind in place of you, and thus trick her
+once more.'
+
+Without more ado he led her to his quarters, and leaving her there to
+embrace and weep over her children, proceeded to cook a hind with such
+art that the queen-mother ate it for her supper with as much appetite as
+if it had indeed been the young queen.
+
+The queen-mother felt well satisfied with her cruel deeds, and planned
+to tell the king, on his return, that savage wolves had devoured his
+consort and his children. It was her habit, however, to prowl often
+about the courts and alleys of the mansion, in the hope of scenting raw
+meat, and one evening she heard the little boy Day crying in a basement
+cellar. The child was weeping because his mother had threatened to whip
+him for some naughtiness, and she heard at the same time the voice of
+Dawn begging forgiveness for her brother.
+
+The ogress recognised the voices of the queen and her children, and was
+enraged to find she had been tricked. The next morning, in tones so
+affrighting that all trembled, she ordered a huge vat to be brought into
+the middle of the courtyard. This she filled with vipers and toads, with
+snakes and serpents of every kind, intending to cast into it the queen
+and her children, and the steward with his wife and serving-girl. By her
+command these were brought forward, with their hands tied behind their
+backs.
+
+There they were, and her minions were making ready to cast them into the
+vat, when into the courtyard rode the king! Nobody had expected him so
+soon, but he had travelled post-haste. Filled with amazement, he
+demanded to know what this horrible spectacle meant. None dared tell
+him, and at that moment the ogress, enraged at what confronted her,
+threw herself head foremost into the vat, and was devoured on the
+instant by the hideous creatures she had placed in it.
+
+The king could not but be sorry, for after all she was his mother; but
+it was not long before he found ample consolation in his beautiful wife
+and children.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "ALL THAT REMAINED FOR THE YOUNGEST WAS THE CAT."]
+
+PUSS IN BOOTS
+
+
+A certain miller had three sons, and when he died the sole worldly goods
+which he bequeathed to them were his mill, his ass, and his cat. This
+little legacy was very quickly divided up, and you may be quite sure
+that neither notary nor attorney were called in to help, for they would
+speedily have grabbed it all for themselves.
+
+The eldest son took the mill, and the second son took the ass.
+Consequently all that remained for the youngest son was the cat, and he
+was not a little disappointed at receiving such a miserable portion.
+
+'My brothers,' said he, 'will be able to get a decent living by joining
+forces, but for my part, as soon as I have eaten my cat and made a muff
+out of his skin, I am bound to die of hunger.'
+
+These remarks were overheard by Puss, who pretended not to have been
+listening, and said very soberly and seriously:
+
+'There is not the least need for you to worry, Master. All you have to
+do is to give me a pouch, and get a pair of boots made for me so that I
+can walk in the woods. You will find then that your share is not so bad
+after all.'
+
+Now this cat had often shown himself capable of performing cunning
+tricks. When catching rats and mice, for example, he would hide himself
+amongst the meal and hang downwards by the feet as though he were dead.
+His master, therefore, though he did not build too much on what the cat
+had said, felt some hope of being assisted in his miserable plight.
+
+On receiving the boots which he had asked for, Puss gaily pulled them
+on. Then he hung the pouch round his neck, and holding the cords which
+tied it in front of him with his paws, he sallied forth to a warren
+where rabbits abounded. Placing some bran and lettuce in the pouch, he
+stretched himself out and lay as if dead. His plan was to wait until
+some young rabbit, unlearned in worldly wisdom, should come and rummage
+in the pouch for the eatables which he had placed there.
+
+Hardly had he laid himself down when things fell out as he wished. A
+stupid young rabbit went into the pouch, and Master Puss, pulling the
+cords tight, killed him on the instant.
+
+Well satisfied with his capture, Puss departed to the king's palace.
+There he demanded an audience, and was ushered upstairs. He entered the
+royal apartment, and bowed profoundly to the king.
+
+'I bring you, Sire,' said he, 'a rabbit from the warren of the marquis
+of Carabas (such was the title he invented for his master), which I am
+bidden to present to you on his behalf.'
+
+'Tell your master,' replied the king, 'that I thank him, and am pleased
+by his attention.'
+
+[Illustration: '_As though he were dead_']
+
+Another time the cat hid himself in a wheatfield, keeping the mouth of
+his bag wide open. Two partridges ventured in, and by pulling the cords
+tight he captured both of them. Off he went and presented them to the
+king, just as he had done with the rabbit from the warren. His
+Majesty was not less gratified by the brace of partridges, and handed
+the cat a present for himself.
+
+For two or three months Puss went on in this way, every now and again
+taking to the king, as a present from his master, some game which he had
+caught. There came a day when he learned that the king intended to take
+his daughter, who was the most beautiful princess in the world, for an
+excursion along the river bank.
+
+'If you will do as I tell you,' said Puss to his master, 'your fortune
+is made. You have only to go and bathe in the river at the spot which I
+shall point out to you. Leave the rest to me.'
+
+The marquis of Carabas had no idea what plan was afoot, but did as the
+cat had directed.
+
+While he was bathing the king drew near, and Puss at once began to cry
+out at the top of his voice:
+
+'Help! help! the marquis of Carabas is drowning!'
+
+At these shouts the king put his head out of the carriage window. He
+recognised the cat who had so often brought him game, and bade his
+escort go speedily to the help of the marquis of Carabas.
+
+While they were pulling the poor marquis out of the river, Puss
+approached the carriage and explained to the king that while his master
+was bathing robbers had come and taken away his clothes, though he had
+cried 'Stop, thief!' at the top of his voice. As a matter of fact, the
+rascal had hidden them under a big stone. The king at once commanded the
+keepers of his wardrobe to go and select a suit of his finest clothes
+for the marquis of Carabas.
+
+The king received the marquis with many compliments, and as the fine
+clothes which the latter had just put on set off his good looks (for he
+was handsome and comely in appearance), the king's daughter found him
+very much to her liking. Indeed, the marquis of Carabas had not bestowed
+more than two or three respectful but sentimental glances upon her when
+she fell madly in love with him. The king invited him to enter the coach
+and join the party.
+
+[Illustration: '_The cat went on ahead_']
+
+Delighted to see his plan so successfully launched, the cat went on
+ahead, and presently came upon some peasants who were mowing a field.
+
+'Listen, my good fellows,' said he; 'if you do not tell the king that
+the field which you are mowing belongs to the marquis of Carabas, you
+will all be chopped up into little pieces like mince-meat.'
+
+[Illustration: _Puss in Boots_]
+
+In due course the king asked the mowers to whom the field on which they
+were at work belonged.
+
+'It is the property of the marquis of Carabas,' they all cried with one
+voice, for the threat from Puss had frightened them.
+
+'You have inherited a fine estate,' the king remarked to Carabas.
+
+'As you see for yourself, Sire,' replied the marquis; 'this is a meadow
+which never fails to yield an abundant crop each year.'
+
+Still travelling ahead, the cat came upon some harvesters.
+
+'Listen, my good fellows,' said he; 'if you do not declare that every
+one of these fields belongs to the marquis of Carabas, you will all be
+chopped up into little bits like mince-meat.'
+
+The king came by a moment later, and wished to know who was the owner of
+the fields in sight.
+
+'It is the marquis of Carabas,' cried the harvesters.
+
+At this the king was more pleased than ever with the marquis.
+
+Preceding the coach on its journey, the cat made the same threat to all
+whom he met, and the king grew astonished at the great wealth of the
+marquis of Carabas.
+
+Finally Master Puss reached a splendid castle, which belonged to an
+ogre. He was the richest ogre that had ever been known, for all the
+lands through which the king had passed were part of the castle domain.
+
+The cat had taken care to find out who this ogre was, and what powers he
+possessed. He now asked for an interview, declaring that he was
+unwilling to pass so close to the castle without having the honour of
+paying his respects to the owner.
+
+The ogre received him as civilly as an ogre can, and bade him sit down.
+
+'I have been told,' said Puss, 'that you have the power to change
+yourself into any kind of animal--for example, that you can transform
+yourself into a lion or an elephant.'
+
+'That is perfectly true,' said the ogre, curtly; 'and just to prove it
+you shall see me turn into a lion.'
+
+Puss was so frightened on seeing a lion before him that he sprang on to
+the roof--not without difficulty and danger, for his boots were not
+meant for walking on the tiles.
+
+Perceiving presently that the ogre had abandoned his transformation,
+Puss descended, and owned to having been thoroughly frightened.
+
+'I have also been told,' he added, 'but I can scarcely believe it, that
+you have the further power to take the shape of the smallest
+animals--for example, that you can change yourself into a rat or a
+mouse. I confess that to me it seems quite impossible.'
+
+'Impossible?' cried the ogre; 'you shall see!' And in the same moment he
+changed himself into a mouse, which began to run about the floor. No
+sooner did Puss see it than he pounced on it and ate it.
+
+Presently the king came along, and noticing the ogre's beautiful mansion
+desired to visit it. The cat heard the rumble of the coach as it crossed
+the castle drawbridge, and running out to the courtyard cried to the
+king:
+
+'Welcome, your Majesty, to the castle of the marquis of Carabas!'
+
+[Illustration: '_Puss became a personage of great importance_']
+
+'What's that?' cried the king. 'Is this castle also yours, marquis?
+Nothing could be finer than this courtyard and the buildings which I see
+all about. With your permission we will go inside and look round.'
+
+The marquis gave his hand to the young princess, and followed the king
+as he led the way up the staircase. Entering a great hall they found
+there a magnificent collation. This had been prepared by the ogre for
+some friends who were to pay him a visit that very day. The latter had
+not dared to enter when they learned that the king was there.
+
+The king was now quite as charmed with the excellent qualities of the
+marquis of Carabas as his daughter. The latter was completely captivated
+by him. Noting the great wealth of which the marquis was evidently
+possessed, and having quaffed several cups of wine, he turned to his
+host, saying:
+
+'It rests with you, marquis, whether you will be my son-in-law.'
+
+The marquis, bowing very low, accepted the honour which the king
+bestowed upon him. The very same day he married the princess.
+
+Puss became a personage of great importance, and gave up hunting mice,
+except for amusement.
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE TOM THUMB
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a wood-cutter and his wife, who had seven
+children, all boys. The eldest was only ten years old, and the youngest
+was seven. People were astonished that the wood-cutter had had so many
+children in so short a time, but the reason was that his wife delighted
+in children, and never had less than two at a time.
+
+They were very poor, and their seven children were a great tax on them,
+for none of them was yet able to earn his own living. And they were
+troubled also because the youngest was very delicate and could not speak
+a word. They mistook for stupidity what was in reality a mark of good
+sense.
+
+This youngest boy was very little. At his birth he was scarcely bigger
+than a man's thumb, and he was called in consequence 'Little Tom Thumb.'
+The poor child was the scapegoat of the family, and got the blame for
+everything. All the same, he was the sharpest and shrewdest of the
+brothers, and if he spoke but little he listened much.
+
+There came a very bad year, when the famine was so great that these poor
+people resolved to get rid of their family. One evening, after the
+children had gone to bed, the wood-cutter was sitting in the
+chimney-corner with his wife. His heart was heavy with sorrow as he said
+to her:
+
+'It must be plain enough to you that we can no longer feed our
+children. I cannot see them die of hunger before my eyes, and I have
+made up my mind to take them to-morrow to the forest and lose them
+there. It will be easy enough to manage, for while they are amusing
+themselves by collecting faggots we have only to disappear without their
+seeing us.'
+
+'Ah!' cried the wood-cutter's wife, 'do you mean to say you are capable
+of letting your own children be lost?'
+
+In vain did her husband remind her of their terrible poverty; she could
+not agree. She was poor, but she was their mother. In the end, however,
+reflecting what a grief it would be to see them die of hunger, she
+consented to the plan, and went weeping to bed.
+
+Little Tom Thumb had heard all that was said. Having discovered, when in
+bed, that serious talk was going on, he had got up softly, and had
+slipped under his father's stool in order to listen without being seen.
+He went back to bed, but did not sleep a wink for the rest of the night,
+thinking over what he had better do. In the morning he rose very early
+and went to the edge of a brook. There he filled his pockets with little
+white pebbles and came quickly home again.
+
+They all set out, and little Tom Thumb said not a word to his brothers
+of what he knew.
+
+They went into a forest which was so dense that when only ten paces
+apart they could not see each other. The wood-cutter set about his work,
+and the children began to collect twigs to make faggots. Presently the
+father and mother, seeing them busy at their task, edged gradually away,
+and then hurried off in haste along a little narrow footpath.
+
+When the children found they were alone they began to cry and call out
+with all their might. Little Tom Thumb let them cry, being confident
+that they would get back home again. For on the way he had dropped the
+little white stones which he carried in his pocket all along the path.
+
+'Don't be afraid, brothers,' he said presently; 'our parents have left
+us here, but I will take you home again. Just follow me.'
+
+They fell in behind him, and he led them straight to their house by the
+same path which they had taken to the forest. At first they dared not go
+in, but placed themselves against the door, where they could hear
+everything their father and mother were saying.
+
+Now the wood-cutter and his wife had no sooner reached home than the
+lord of the manor sent them a sum of ten crowns which had been owing
+from him for a long time, and of which they had given up hope. This put
+new life into them, for the poor creatures were dying of hunger.
+
+The wood-cutter sent his wife off to the butcher at once, and as it was
+such a long time since they had had anything to eat, she bought three
+times as much meat as a supper for two required.
+
+When they found themselves once more at table, the wood-cutter's wife
+began to lament.
+
+'Alas! where are our poor children now?' she said; 'they could make a
+good meal off what we have over. Mind you, William, it was you who
+wished to lose them: I declared over and over again that we should
+repent it. What are they doing now in that forest? Merciful heavens,
+perhaps the wolves have already eaten them! A monster you must be to
+lose your children in this way!'
+
+[Illustration: '_A good dame opened the door_']
+
+At last the wood-cutter lost patience, for she repeated more than twenty
+times that he would repent it, and that she had told him so. He
+threatened to beat her if she did not hold her tongue.
+
+It was not that the wood-cutter was less grieved than his wife, but she
+browbeat him, and he was of the same opinion as many other people, who
+like a woman to have the knack of saying the right thing, but not the
+trick of being always in the right.
+
+'Alas!' cried the wood-cutter's wife, bursting into tears, 'where are
+now my children, my poor children?'
+
+She said it once so loud that the children at the door heard it plainly.
+Together they all called out:
+
+'Here we are! Here we are!'
+
+She rushed to open the door for them, and exclaimed, as she embraced
+them:
+
+'How glad I am to see you again, dear children! You must be very tired
+and very hungry. And you, Peterkin, how muddy you are--come and let me
+wash you!'
+
+This Peterkin was her eldest son. She loved him more than all the others
+because he was inclined to be red-headed, and she herself was rather
+red.
+
+They sat down at the table and ate with an appetite which it did their
+parents good to see. They all talked at once, as they recounted the
+fears they had felt in the forest.
+
+The good souls were delighted to have their children with them again,
+and the pleasure continued as long as the ten crowns lasted. But when
+the money was all spent they relapsed into their former sadness. They
+again resolved to lose the children, and to lead them much further away
+than they had done the first time, so as to do the job thoroughly. But
+though they were careful not to speak openly about it, their
+conversation did not escape little Tom Thumb, who made up his mind to
+get out of the situation as he had done on the former occasion.
+
+But though he got up early to go and collect his little stones, he found
+the door of the house doubly locked, and he could not carry out his
+plan.
+
+He could not think what to do until the wood-cutter's wife gave them
+each a piece of bread for breakfast. Then it occurred to him to use the
+bread in place of the stones, by throwing crumbs along the path which
+they took, and he tucked it tight in his pocket.
+
+Their parents led them into the thickest and darkest part of the forest,
+and as soon as they were there slipped away by a side-path and left
+them. This did not much trouble little Tom Thumb, for he believed he
+could easily find the way back by means of the bread which he had
+scattered wherever he walked. But to his dismay he could not discover a
+single crumb. The birds had come along and eaten it all.
+
+They were in sore trouble now, for with every step they strayed further,
+and became more and more entangled in the forest. Night came on and a
+terrific wind arose, which filled them with dreadful alarm. On every
+side they seemed to hear nothing but the howling of wolves which were
+coming to eat them up. They dared not speak or move.
+
+In addition it began to rain so heavily that they were soaked to the
+skin. At every step they tripped and fell on the wet ground, getting up
+again covered with mud, not knowing what to do with their hands.
+
+Little Tom Thumb climbed to the top of a tree, in an endeavour to see
+something. Looking all about him he espied, far away on the other side
+of the forest, a little light like that of a candle. He got down from
+the tree, and was terribly disappointed to find that when he was on the
+ground he could see nothing at all.
+
+After they had walked some distance in the direction of the light,
+however, he caught a glimpse of it again as they were nearing the edge
+of the forest. At last they reached the house where the light was
+burning, but not without much anxiety, for every time they had to go
+down into a hollow they lost sight of it.
+
+They knocked at the door, and a good dame opened to them. She asked them
+what they wanted.
+
+Little Tom Thumb explained that they were poor children who had lost
+their way in the forest, and begged her, for pity's sake, to give them a
+night's lodging.
+
+Noticing what bonny children they all were, the woman began to cry.
+
+'Alas, my poor little dears!' she said; 'you do not know the place you
+have come to! Have you not heard that this is the house of an ogre who
+eats little children?'
+
+'Alas, madam!' answered little Tom Thumb, trembling like all the rest of
+his brothers, 'what shall we do? One thing is very certain: if you do
+not take us in, the wolves of the forest will devour us this very night,
+and that being so we should prefer to be eaten by your husband. Perhaps
+he may take pity on us, if you will plead for us.'
+
+The ogre's wife, thinking she might be able to hide them from her
+husband till the next morning, allowed them to come in, and put them to
+warm near a huge fire, where a whole sheep was cooking on the spit for
+the ogre's supper.
+
+Just as they were beginning to get warm they heard two or three great
+bangs at the door. The ogre had returned. His wife hid them quickly
+under the bed and ran to open the door.
+
+The first thing the ogre did was to ask whether supper was ready and the
+wine opened. Then without ado he sat down to table. Blood was still
+dripping from the sheep, but it seemed all the better to him for that.
+He sniffed to right and left, declaring that he could smell fresh flesh.
+
+'Indeed!' said his wife. 'It must be the calf which I have just dressed
+that you smell.'
+
+'_I smell fresh flesh_, I tell you,' shouted the ogre, eyeing his wife
+askance; 'and there is something going on here which I do not
+understand.'
+
+With these words he got up from the table and went straight to the bed.
+
+'Aha!' said he; 'so this is the way you deceive me, wicked woman that
+you are! I have a very great mind to eat you too! It's lucky for you
+that you are old and tough! I am expecting three ogre friends of mine to
+pay me a visit in the next few days, and here is a tasty dish which will
+just come in nicely for them!'
+
+One after another he dragged the children out from under the bed.
+
+[Illustration: '_He could smell fresh flesh_']
+
+The poor things threw themselves on their knees, imploring mercy; but
+they had to deal with the most cruel of all ogres. Far from pitying
+them, he was already devouring them with his eyes, and repeating to
+his wife that when cooked with a good sauce they would make most dainty
+morsels.
+
+Off he went to get a large knife, which he sharpened, as he drew near
+the poor children, on a long stone in his left hand.
+
+He had already seized one of them when his wife called out to him. 'What
+do you want to do it now for?' she said; 'will it not be time enough
+to-morrow?'
+
+'Hold your tongue,' replied the ogre; 'they will be all the more
+tender.'
+
+'But you have such a lot of meat,' rejoined his wife; 'look, there are a
+calf, two sheep, and half a pig.'
+
+'You are right,' said the ogre; 'give them a good supper to fatten them
+up, and take them to bed.'
+
+The good woman was overjoyed and brought them a splendid supper; but the
+poor little wretches were so cowed with fright that they could not eat.
+
+As for the ogre, he went back to his drinking, very pleased to have such
+good entertainment for his friends. He drank a dozen cups more than
+usual, and was obliged to go off to bed early, for the wine had gone
+somewhat to his head.
+
+Now the ogre had seven daughters who as yet were only children. These
+little ogresses all had the most lovely complexions, for, like their
+father, they ate fresh meat. But they had little round grey eyes,
+crooked noses, and very large mouths, with long and exceedingly sharp
+teeth, set far apart. They were not so very wicked at present, but they
+showed great promise, for already they were in the habit of killing
+little children to suck their blood.
+
+They had gone to bed early, and were all seven in a great bed, each with
+a crown of gold upon her head.
+
+In the same room there was another bed, equally large. Into this the
+ogre's wife put the seven little boys, and then went to sleep herself
+beside her husband.
+
+Little Tom Thumb was fearful lest the ogre should suddenly regret that
+he had not cut the throats of himself and his brothers the evening
+before. Having noticed that the ogre's daughters all had golden crowns
+upon their heads, he got up in the middle of the night and softly placed
+his own cap and those of his brothers on their heads. Before doing so,
+he carefully removed the crowns of gold, putting them on his own and his
+brothers' heads. In this way, if the ogre were to feel like slaughtering
+them that night he would mistake the girls for the boys, and _vice
+versa_.
+
+Things fell out just as he had anticipated. The ogre, waking up at
+midnight, regretted that he had postponed till the morrow what he could
+have done overnight. Jumping briskly out of bed, he seized his knife,
+crying: 'Now then, let's see how the little rascals are; we won't make
+the same mistake twice!'
+
+He groped his way up to his daughters' room, and approached the bed in
+which were the seven little boys. All were sleeping, with the exception
+of little Tom Thumb, who was numb with fear when he felt the ogre's
+hand, as it touched the head of each brother in turn, reach his own.
+
+'Upon my word,' said the ogre, as he felt the golden crowns; 'a nice job
+I was going to make of it! It is very evident that I drank a little too
+much last night!'
+
+Forthwith he went to the bed where his daughters were, and here he felt
+the little boys' caps.
+
+'Aha, here are the little scamps!' he cried; 'now for a smart bit of
+work!'
+
+[Illustration: '_He set off over the countryside_']
+
+With these words, and without a moment's hesitation, he cut the throats
+of his seven daughters, and well satisfied with his work went back to
+bed beside his wife.
+
+No sooner did little Tom Thumb hear him snoring than he woke up his
+brothers, bidding them dress quickly and follow him. They crept quietly
+down to the garden, and jumped from the wall. All through the night they
+ran in haste and terror, without the least idea of where they were
+going.
+
+When the ogre woke up he said to his wife:
+
+'Go upstairs and dress those little rascals who were here last night.'
+
+The ogre's wife was astonished at her husband's kindness, never doubting
+that he meant her to go and put on their clothes. She went upstairs, and
+was horrified to discover her seven daughters bathed in blood, with
+their throats cut.
+
+She fell at once into a swoon, which is the way of most women in similar
+circumstances.
+
+The ogre, thinking his wife was very long in carrying out his orders,
+went up to help her, and was no less astounded than his wife at the
+terrible spectacle which confronted him.
+
+'What's this I have done?' he exclaimed. 'I will be revenged on the
+wretches, and quickly, too!'
+
+He threw a jugful of water over his wife's face, and having brought her
+round ordered her to fetch his seven-league boots, so that he might
+overtake the children.
+
+He set off over the countryside, and strode far and wide until he came
+to the road along which the poor children were travelling. They were not
+more than a few yards from their home when they saw the ogre striding
+from hill-top to hill-top, and stepping over rivers as though they were
+merely tiny streams.
+
+Little Tom Thumb espied near at hand a cave in some rocks. In this he
+hid his brothers, and himself followed them in, while continuing to keep
+a watchful eye upon the movements of the ogre.
+
+Now the ogre was feeling very tired after so much fruitless marching
+(for seven-league boots are very fatiguing to their wearer), and felt
+like taking a little rest. As it happened, he went and sat down on the
+very rock beneath which the little boys were hiding. Overcome with
+weariness, he had not sat there long before he fell asleep and began to
+snore so terribly that the poor children were as frightened as when he
+had held his great knife to their throats.
+
+Little Tom Thumb was not so alarmed. He told his brothers to flee at
+once to their home while the ogre was still sleeping soundly, and not to
+worry about him. They took his advice and ran quickly home.
+
+Little Tom Thumb now approached the ogre and gently pulled off his
+boots, which he at once donned himself. The boots were very heavy and
+very large, but being enchanted boots they had the faculty of growing
+larger or smaller according to the leg they had to suit. Consequently
+they always fitted as though they had been made for the wearer.
+
+He went straight to the ogre's house, where he found the ogre's wife
+weeping over her murdered daughters.
+
+[Illustration: '_Laden with all the ogre's wealth_']
+
+'Your husband,' said little Tom Thumb, 'is in great danger, for he has
+been captured by a gang of thieves, and the latter have sworn to kill
+him if he does not hand over all his gold and silver. Just as they had
+the dagger at his throat, he caught sight of me and begged me to come to
+you and thus rescue him from his terrible plight. You are to give me
+everything of value which he possesses, without keeping back a thing,
+otherwise he will be slain without mercy. As the matter is urgent he
+wished me to wear his seven-league boots, to save time, and also to
+prove to you that I am no impostor.'
+
+The ogre's wife, in great alarm, gave him immediately all that she had,
+for although this was an ogre who devoured little children, he was by no
+means a bad husband.
+
+Little Tom Thumb, laden with all the ogre's wealth, forthwith repaired
+to his father's house, where he was received with great joy.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Many people do not agree about this last adventure, and pretend that
+little Tom Thumb never committed this theft from the ogre, and only took
+the seven-league boots, about which he had no compunction, since they
+were only used by the ogre for catching little children. These folks
+assert that they are in a position to know, having been guests at the
+wood-cutter's cottage. They further say that when little Tom Thumb had
+put on the ogre's boots, he went off to the Court, where he knew there
+was great anxiety concerning the result of a battle which was being
+fought by an army two hundred leagues away.
+
+They say that he went to the king and undertook, if desired, to bring
+news of the army before the day was out; and that the king promised him
+a large sum of money if he could carry out his project.
+
+Little Tom Thumb brought news that very night, and this first errand
+having brought him into notice, he made as much money as he wished. For
+not only did the king pay him handsomely to carry orders to the army,
+but many ladies at the court gave him anything he asked to get them news
+of their lovers, and this was his greatest source of income. He was
+occasionally entrusted by wives with letters to their husbands, but they
+paid him so badly, and this branch of the business brought him in so
+little, that he did not even bother to reckon what he made from it.
+
+After acting as courier for some time, and amassing great wealth
+thereby, little Tom Thumb returned to his father's house, and was there
+greeted with the greatest joy imaginable. He made all his family
+comfortable, buying newly-created positions for his father and brothers.
+In this way he set them all up, not forgetting at the same time to look
+well after himself.
+
+
+
+
+THE FAIRIES
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a widow with two daughters. The elder was
+often mistaken for her mother, so like her was she both in nature and in
+looks; parent and child being so disagreeable and arrogant that no one
+could live with them.
+
+The younger girl, who took after her father in the gentleness and
+sweetness of her disposition, was also one of the prettiest girls
+imaginable. The mother doted on the elder daughter--naturally enough,
+since she resembled her so closely--and disliked the younger one as
+intensely. She made the latter live in the kitchen and work hard from
+morning till night.
+
+One of the poor child's many duties was to go twice a day and draw water
+from a spring a good half-mile away, bringing it back in a large
+pitcher. One day when she was at the spring an old woman came up and
+begged for a drink.
+
+'Why, certainly, good mother,' the pretty lass replied. Rinsing her
+pitcher, she drew some water from the cleanest part of the spring and
+handed it to the dame, lifting up the jug so that she might drink the
+more easily.
+
+Now this old woman was a fairy, who had taken the form of a poor village
+dame to see just how far the girl's good nature would go. 'You are so
+pretty,' she said, when she had finished drinking, 'and so polite, that
+I am determined to bestow a gift upon you. This is the boon I grant
+you: with every word that you utter there shall fall from your mouth
+either a flower or a precious stone.'
+
+When the girl reached home she was scolded by her mother for being so
+long in coming back from the spring.
+
+'I am sorry to have been so long, mother,' said the poor child.
+
+As she spoke these words there fell from her mouth three roses, three
+pearls, and three diamonds.
+
+'What's this?' cried her mother; 'did I see pearls and diamonds dropping
+out of your mouth? What does this mean, dear daughter?' (This was the
+first time she had ever addressed her daughter affectionately.)
+
+The poor child told a simple tale of what had happened, and in speaking
+scattered diamonds right and left.
+
+'Really,' said her mother, 'I must send my own child there. Come here,
+Fanchon; look what comes out of your sister's mouth whenever she speaks!
+Wouldn't you like to be able to do the same? All you have to do is to go
+and draw some water at the spring, and when a poor woman asks you for a
+drink, give it her very nicely.'
+
+'Oh, indeed!' replied the ill-mannered girl; 'don't you wish you may see
+me going there!'
+
+'I tell you that you are to go,' said her mother, 'and to go this
+instant.'
+
+[Illustration: '_Lifting up the jug so that she might drink the more
+easily_']
+
+Very sulkily the girl went off, taking with her the best silver flagon
+in the house. No sooner had she reached the spring than she saw a lady,
+magnificently attired, who came towards her from the forest, and asked
+for a drink. This was the same fairy who had appeared to her sister,
+masquerading now as a princess in order to see how far this girl's
+ill-nature would carry her.
+
+'Do you think I have come here just to get you a drink?' said the
+loutish damsel, arrogantly. 'I suppose you think I brought a silver
+flagon here specially for that purpose--it's so likely, isn't it? Drink
+from the spring, if you want to!'
+
+'You are not very polite,' said the fairy, displaying no sign of anger.
+'Well, in return for your lack of courtesy I decree that for every word
+you utter a snake or a toad shall drop out of your mouth.'
+
+The moment her mother caught sight of her coming back she cried out,
+'Well, daughter?'
+
+'Well, mother?' replied the rude girl. As she spoke a viper and a toad
+were spat out of her mouth.
+
+'Gracious heavens!' cried her mother; 'what do I see? Her sister is the
+cause of this, and I will make her pay for it!'
+
+Off she ran to thrash the poor child, but the latter fled away and hid
+in the forest near by. The king's son met her on his way home from
+hunting, and noticing how pretty she was inquired what she was doing all
+alone, and what she was weeping about.
+
+'Alas, sir,' she cried; 'my mother has driven me from home!'
+
+As she spoke the prince saw four or five pearls and as many diamonds
+fall from her mouth. He begged her to tell him how this came about, and
+she told him the whole story.
+
+The king's son fell in love with her, and reflecting that such a gift as
+had been bestowed upon her was worth more than any dowry which another
+maiden might bring him, he took her to the palace of his royal father,
+and there married her.
+
+As for the sister, she made herself so hateful that even her mother
+drove her out of the house. Nowhere could the wretched girl find any one
+who would take her in, and at last she lay down in the forest and died.
+
+
+
+
+RICKY OF THE TUFT
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a queen who bore a son so ugly and misshapen
+that for some time it was doubtful if he would have human form at all.
+But a fairy who was present at his birth promised that he should have
+plenty of brains, and added that by virtue of the gift which she had
+just bestowed upon him he would be able to impart to the person whom he
+should love best the same degree of intelligence which he possessed
+himself.
+
+This somewhat consoled the poor queen, who was greatly disappointed at
+having brought into the world such a hideous brat. And indeed, no sooner
+did the child begin to speak than his sayings proved to be full of
+shrewdness, while all that he did was somehow so clever that he charmed
+every one.
+
+I forgot to mention that when he was born he had a little tuft of hair
+upon his head. For this reason he was called Ricky of the Tuft, Ricky
+being his family name.
+
+Some seven or eight years later the queen of a neighbouring kingdom gave
+birth to twin daughters. The first one to come into the world was more
+beautiful than the dawn, and the queen was so overjoyed that it was
+feared her great excitement might do her some harm. The same fairy who
+had assisted at the birth of Ricky of the Tuft was present, and, in
+order to moderate the transports of the queen she declared that this
+little princess would have no sense at all, and would be as stupid as
+she was beautiful.
+
+The queen was deeply mortified, and a moment or two later her chagrin
+became greater still, for the second daughter proved to be extremely
+ugly.
+
+'Do not be distressed, Madam,' said the fairy; 'your daughter shall be
+recompensed in another way. She shall have so much good sense that her
+lack of beauty will scarcely be noticed.'
+
+'May Heaven grant it!' said the queen; 'but is there no means by which
+the elder, who is so beautiful, can be endowed with some intelligence?'
+
+'In the matter of brains I can do nothing for her, Madam,' said the
+fairy, 'but as regards beauty I can do a great deal. As there is nothing
+I would not do to please you, I will bestow upon her the power of making
+beautiful any person who shall greatly please her.'
+
+As the two princesses grew up their perfections increased, and
+everywhere the beauty of the elder and the wit of the younger were the
+subject of common talk.
+
+It is equally true that their defects also increased as they became
+older. The younger grew uglier every minute, and the elder daily became
+more stupid. Either she answered nothing at all when spoken to, or
+replied with some idiotic remark. At the same time she was so awkward
+that she could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece without
+breaking one of them, nor drink a glass of water without spilling half
+of it over her clothes.
+
+[Illustration: '_She could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece
+without breaking one of them_']
+
+Now although the elder girl possessed the great advantage which beauty
+always confers upon youth, she was nevertheless outshone in almost all
+company by her younger sister. At first every one gathered round the
+beauty to see and admire her, but very soon they were all attracted by
+the graceful and easy conversation of the clever one. In a very short
+time the elder girl would be left entirely alone, while everybody
+clustered round her sister.
+
+[Illustration: '_Graceful and easy conversation_']
+
+The elder princess was not so stupid that she was not aware of this, and
+she would willingly have surrendered all her beauty for half her
+sister's cleverness. Sometimes she was ready to die of grief, for the
+queen, though a sensible woman, could not refrain from occasionally
+reproaching her with her stupidity.
+
+The princess had retired one day to a wood to bemoan her misfortune,
+when she saw approaching her an ugly little man, of very disagreeable
+appearance, but clad in magnificent attire.
+
+This was the young prince Ricky of the Tuft. He had fallen in love with
+her portrait, which was everywhere to be seen, and had left his father's
+kingdom in order to have the pleasure of seeing and talking to her.
+
+Delighted to meet her thus alone, he approached with every mark of
+respect and politeness. But while he paid her the usual compliments he
+noticed that she was plunged in melancholy.
+
+'I cannot understand, madam,' he said, 'how any one with your beauty can
+be so sad as you appear. I can boast of having seen many fair ladies,
+and I declare that none of them could compare in beauty with you.'
+
+'It is very kind of you to say so, sir,' answered the princess; and
+stopped there, at a loss what to say further.
+
+'Beauty,' said Ricky, 'is of such great advantage that everything else
+can be disregarded; and I do not see that the possessor of it can have
+anything much to grieve about.'
+
+To this the princess replied:
+
+'I would rather be as plain as you are and have some sense, than be as
+beautiful as I am and at the same time stupid.'
+
+'Nothing more clearly displays good sense, madam, than a belief that one
+is not possessed of it. It follows, therefore, that the more one has,
+the more one fears it to be wanting.'
+
+'I am not sure about that,' said the princess; 'but I know only too well
+that I am very stupid, and this is the reason of the misery which is
+nearly killing me.'
+
+'If that is all that troubles you, madam, I can easily put an end to
+your suffering.'
+
+'How will you manage that?' said the princess.
+
+'I am able, madam,' said Ricky of the Tuft, 'to bestow as much good
+sense as it is possible to possess on the person whom I love the most.
+You are that person, and it therefore rests with you to decide whether
+you will acquire so much intelligence. The only condition is that you
+shall consent to marry me.'
+
+The princess was dumbfounded, and remained silent.
+
+'I can see,' pursued Ricky, 'that this suggestion perplexes you, and I
+am not surprised. But I will give you a whole year to make up your mind
+to it.'
+
+The princess had so little sense, and at the same time desired it so
+ardently, that she persuaded herself the end of this year would never
+come. So she accepted the offer which had been made to her. No sooner
+had she given her word to Ricky that she would marry him within one year
+from that very day, than she felt a complete change come over her. She
+found herself able to say all that she wished with the greatest ease,
+and to say it in an elegant, finished, and natural manner. She at once
+engaged Ricky in a brilliant and lengthy conversation, holding her own
+so well that Ricky feared he had given her a larger share of sense than
+he had retained for himself.
+
+On her return to the palace amazement reigned throughout the Court at
+such a sudden and extraordinary change. Whereas formerly they had been
+accustomed to hear her give vent to silly, pert remarks, they now heard
+her express herself sensibly and very wittily.
+
+The entire Court was overjoyed. The only person not too pleased was the
+younger sister, for now that she had no longer the advantage over the
+elder in wit, she seemed nothing but a little fright in comparison.
+
+The king himself often took her advice, and several times held his
+councils in her apartment.
+
+The news of this change spread abroad, and the princes of the
+neighbouring kingdoms made many attempts to captivate her. Almost all
+asked her in marriage. But she found none with enough sense, and so she
+listened to all without promising herself to any.
+
+At last came one who was so powerful, so rich, so witty, and so
+handsome, that she could not help being somewhat attracted by him. Her
+father noticed this, and told her she could make her own choice of a
+husband: she had only to declare herself.
+
+Now the more sense one has, the more difficult it is to make up one's
+mind in an affair of this kind. After thanking her father, therefore,
+she asked for a little time to think it over.
+
+In order to ponder quietly what she had better do she went to walk in a
+wood--the very one, as it happened, where she encountered Ricky of the
+Tuft.
+
+While she walked, deep in thought, she heard beneath her feet a thudding
+sound, as though many people were running busily to and fro. Listening
+more attentively she heard voices. 'Bring me that boiler,' said one;
+then another--'Put some wood on that fire!'
+
+At that moment the ground opened, and she saw below what appeared to be
+a large kitchen full of cooks and scullions, and all the train of
+attendants which the preparation of a great banquet involves. A gang of
+some twenty or thirty spit-turners emerged and took up their positions
+round a very long table in a path in the wood. They all wore their
+cook's caps on one side, and with their basting implements in their
+hands they kept time together as they worked, to the lilt of a melodious
+song.
+
+The princess was astonished by this spectacle, and asked for whom their
+work was being done.
+
+'For Prince Ricky of the Tuft, madam,' said the foreman of the gang;
+'his wedding is to-morrow.'
+
+At this the princess was more surprised than ever. In a flash she
+remembered that it was a year to the very day since she had promised to
+marry Prince Ricky of the Tuft, and was taken aback by the recollection.
+The reason she had forgotten was that when she made the promise she was
+still without sense, and with the acquisition of that intelligence which
+the prince had bestowed upon her, all memory of her former stupidities
+had been blotted out.
+
+She had not gone another thirty paces when Ricky of the Tuft appeared
+before her, gallant and resplendent, like a prince upon his wedding day.
+
+'As you see, madam,' he said, 'I keep my word to the minute. I do not
+doubt that you have come to keep yours, and by giving me your hand to
+make me the happiest of men.'
+
+'I will be frank with you,' replied the princess. 'I have not yet made
+up my mind on the point, and I am afraid I shall never be able to take
+the decision you desire.'
+
+'You astonish me, madam,' said Ricky of the Tuft.
+
+'I can well believe it,' said the princess, 'and undoubtedly, if I had
+to deal with a clown, or a man who lacked good sense, I should feel
+myself very awkwardly situated. "A princess must keep her word," he
+would say, "and you must marry me because you promised to!" But I am
+speaking to a man of the world, of the greatest good sense, and I am
+sure that he will listen to reason. As you are aware, I could not make
+up my mind to marry you even when I was entirely without sense; how can
+you expect that to-day, possessing the intelligence you bestowed on me,
+which makes me still more difficult to please than formerly, I should
+take a decision which I could not take then? If you wished so much to
+marry me, you were very wrong to relieve me of my stupidity, and to let
+me see more clearly than I did.'
+
+'If a man who lacked good sense,' replied Ricky of the Tuft, 'would be
+justified, as you have just said, in reproaching you for breaking your
+word, why do you expect, madam, that I should act differently where the
+happiness of my whole life is at stake? Is it reasonable that people who
+have sense should be treated worse than those who have none? Would you
+maintain that for a moment--you, who so markedly have sense, and desired
+so ardently to have it? But, pardon me, let us get to the facts. With
+the exception of my ugliness, is there anything about me which
+displeases you? Are you dissatisfied with my breeding, my brains, my
+disposition, or my manners?'
+
+'In no way,' replied the princess; 'I like exceedingly all that you have
+displayed of the qualities you mention.'
+
+'In that case,' said Ricky of the Tuft, 'happiness will be mine, for it
+lies in your power to make me the most attractive of men.'
+
+'How can that be done?' asked the princess.
+
+[Illustration: _Ricky of the Tuft_]
+
+'It will happen of itself,' replied Ricky of the Tuft, 'if you love me
+well enough to wish that it be so. To remove your doubts, madam, let me
+tell you that the same fairy who on the day of my birth bestowed upon
+me the power of endowing with intelligence the woman of my choice, gave
+to you also the power of endowing with beauty the man whom you should
+love, and on whom you should wish to confer this favour.'
+
+'If that is so,' said the princess, 'I wish with all my heart that you
+may become the handsomest and most attractive prince in the world, and I
+give you without reserve the boon which it is mine to bestow.'
+
+No sooner had the princess uttered these words than Ricky of the Tuft
+appeared before her eyes as the handsomest, most graceful and attractive
+man that she had ever set eyes on.
+
+Some people assert that this was not the work of fairy enchantment, but
+that love alone brought about the transformation. They say that the
+princess, as she mused upon her lover's constancy, upon his good sense,
+and his many admirable qualities of heart and head, grew blind to the
+deformity of his body and the ugliness of his face; that his hump back
+seemed no more than was natural in a man who could make the courtliest
+of bows, and that the dreadful limp which had formerly distressed her
+now betokened nothing more than a certain diffidence and charming
+deference of manner. They say further that she found his eyes shine all
+the brighter for their squint, and that this defect in them was to her
+but a sign of passionate love; while his great red nose she found nought
+but martial and heroic.
+
+However that may be, the princess promised to marry him on the spot,
+provided only that he could obtain the consent of her royal father.
+
+The king knew Ricky of the Tuft to be a prince both wise and witty, and
+on learning of his daughter's regard for him, he accepted him with
+pleasure as a son-in-law.
+
+The wedding took place upon the morrow, just as Ricky of the Tuft had
+foreseen, and in accordance with the arrangements he had long ago put in
+train.
+
+
+
+
+CINDERELLA
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a worthy man who married for his second wife
+the haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been seen. She had two
+daughters, who possessed their mother's temper and resembled her in
+everything. Her husband, on the other hand, had a young daughter, who
+was of an exceptionally sweet and gentle nature. She got this from her
+mother, who had been the nicest person in the world.
+
+The wedding was no sooner over than the stepmother began to display her
+bad temper. She could not endure the excellent qualities of this young
+girl, for they made her own daughters appear more hateful than ever. She
+thrust upon her all the meanest tasks about the house. It was she who
+had to clean the plates and the stairs, and sweep out the rooms of the
+mistress of the house and her daughters. She slept on a wretched
+mattress in a garret at the top of the house, while the sisters had
+rooms with parquet flooring, and beds of the most fashionable style,
+with mirrors in which they could see themselves from top to toe.
+
+The poor girl endured everything patiently, not daring to complain to
+her father. The latter would have scolded her, because he was entirely
+ruled by his wife. When she had finished her work she used to sit
+amongst the cinders in the corner of the chimney, and it was from this
+habit that she came to be commonly known as Cinder-slut. The younger of
+the two sisters, who was not quite so spiteful as the elder, called her
+Cinderella. But her wretched clothes did not prevent Cinderella from
+being a hundred times more beautiful than her sisters, for all their
+resplendent garments.
+
+It happened that the king's son gave a ball, and he invited all persons
+of high degree. The two young ladies were invited amongst others, for
+they cut a considerable figure in the country. Not a little pleased were
+they, and the question of what clothes and what mode of dressing the
+hair would become them best took up all their time. And all this meant
+fresh trouble for Cinderella, for it was she who went over her sisters'
+linen and ironed their ruffles. They could talk of nothing else but the
+fashions in clothes.
+
+'For my part,' said the elder, 'I shall wear my dress of red velvet,
+with the Honiton lace.'
+
+'I have only my everyday petticoat,' said the younger, 'but to make up
+for it I shall wear my cloak with the golden flowers and my necklace of
+diamonds, which are not so bad.'
+
+They sent for a good hairdresser to arrange their double-frilled caps,
+and bought patches at the best shop.
+
+They summoned Cinderella and asked her advice, for she had good taste.
+Cinderella gave them the best possible suggestions, and even offered to
+dress their hair, to which they gladly agreed.
+
+While she was thus occupied they said:
+
+'Cinderella, would you not like to go to the ball?'
+
+'Ah, but you fine young ladies are laughing at me. It would be no place
+for me.'
+
+[Illustration: '_The haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been
+seen_']
+
+'That is very true, people would laugh to see a cinder-slut in the
+ballroom.'
+
+Any one else but Cinderella would have done their hair amiss, but she
+was good-natured, and she finished them off to perfection. They were so
+excited in their glee that for nearly two days they ate nothing. They
+broke more than a dozen laces through drawing their stays tight in order
+to make their waists more slender, and they were perpetually in front of
+a mirror.
+
+At last the happy day arrived. Away they went, Cinderella watching them
+as long as she could keep them in sight. When she could no longer see
+them she began to cry. Her godmother found her in tears, and asked what
+was troubling her.
+
+'I should like--I should like----'
+
+She was crying so bitterly that she could not finish the sentence.
+
+Said her godmother, who was a fairy:
+
+'You would like to go to the ball, would you not?'
+
+'Ah, yes,' said Cinderella, sighing.
+
+'Well, well,' said her godmother, 'promise to be a good girl and I will
+arrange for you to go.'
+
+She took Cinderella into her room and said:
+
+'Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.'
+
+Cinderella went at once and gathered the finest that she could find.
+This she brought to her godmother, wondering how a pumpkin could help in
+taking her to the ball.
+
+Her godmother scooped it out, and when only the rind was left, struck it
+with her wand. Instantly the pumpkin was changed into a beautiful coach,
+gilded all over.
+
+Then she went and looked in the mouse-trap, where she found six mice
+all alive. She told Cinderella to lift the door of the mouse-trap a
+little, and as each mouse came out she gave it a tap with her wand,
+whereupon it was transformed into a fine horse. So that here was a fine
+team of six dappled mouse-grey horses.
+
+But she was puzzled to know how to provide a coachman.
+
+'I will go and see,' said Cinderella, 'if there is not a rat in the
+rat-trap. We could make a coachman of him.'
+
+'Quite right,' said her godmother, 'go and see.'
+
+Cinderella brought in the rat-trap, which contained three big rats. The
+fairy chose one specially on account of his elegant whiskers.
+
+As soon as she had touched him he turned into a fat coachman with the
+finest moustachios that ever were seen.
+
+'Now go into the garden and bring me the six lizards which you will find
+behind the water-butt.'
+
+No sooner had they been brought than the godmother turned them into six
+lackeys, who at once climbed up behind the coach in their braided
+liveries, and hung on there as if they had never done anything else all
+their lives.
+
+Then said the fairy godmother:
+
+'Well, there you have the means of going to the ball. Are you
+satisfied?'
+
+'Oh, yes, but am I to go like this in my ugly clothes?'
+
+Her godmother merely touched her with her wand, and on the instant her
+clothes were changed into garments of gold and silver cloth, bedecked
+with jewels. After that her godmother gave her a pair of glass slippers,
+the prettiest in the world.
+
+[Illustration: '_Her godmother found her in tears_']
+
+Thus altered, she entered the coach. Her godmother bade her not to stay
+beyond midnight whatever happened, warning her that if she remained
+at the ball a moment longer, her coach would again become a pumpkin, her
+horses mice, and her lackeys lizards, while her old clothes would
+reappear upon her once more.
+
+She promised her godmother that she would not fail to leave the ball
+before midnight, and away she went, beside herself with delight.
+
+[Illustration: '_Away she went_']
+
+The king's son, when he was told of the arrival of a great princess whom
+nobody knew, went forth to receive her. He handed her down from the
+coach, and led her into the hall where the company was assembled. At
+once there fell a great silence. The dancers stopped, the violins played
+no more, so rapt was the attention which everybody bestowed upon the
+superb beauty of the unknown guest. Everywhere could be heard in
+confused whispers:
+
+'Oh, how beautiful she is!'
+
+The king, old man as he was, could not take his eyes off her, and
+whispered to the queen that it was many a long day since he had seen any
+one so beautiful and charming.
+
+All the ladies were eager to scrutinise her clothes and the dressing of
+her hair, being determined to copy them on the morrow, provided they
+could find materials so fine, and tailors so clever.
+
+The king's son placed her in the seat of honour, and at once begged the
+privilege of being her partner in a dance. Such was the grace with which
+she danced that the admiration of all was increased.
+
+A magnificent supper was served, but the young prince could eat nothing,
+so taken up was he with watching her. She went and sat beside her
+sisters, and bestowed numberless attentions upon them. She made them
+share with her the oranges and lemons which the king had given
+her--greatly to their astonishment, for they did not recognise her.
+
+While they were talking, Cinderella heard the clock strike a quarter to
+twelve. She at once made a profound curtsey to the company, and departed
+as quickly as she could.
+
+As soon as she was home again she sought out her godmother, and having
+thanked her, declared that she wished to go upon the morrow once more to
+the ball, because the king's son had invited her.
+
+While she was busy telling her godmother all that had happened at the
+ball, her two sisters knocked at the door. Cinderella let them in.
+
+'What a long time you have been in coming!' she declared, rubbing her
+eyes and stretching herself as if she had only just awakened. In real
+truth she had not for a moment wished to sleep since they had left.
+
+[Illustration: '_She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn_']
+
+'If you had been at the ball,' said one of the sisters, 'you would not
+be feeling weary. There came a most beautiful princess, the most
+beautiful that has ever been seen, and she bestowed numberless
+attentions upon us, and gave us her oranges and lemons.'
+
+Cinderella was overjoyed. She asked them the name of the princess, but
+they replied that no one knew it, and that the king's son was so
+distressed that he would give anything in the world to know who she was.
+
+Cinderella smiled, and said she must have been beautiful indeed.
+
+'Oh, how lucky you are. Could I not manage to see her? Oh, please,
+Javotte, lend me the yellow dress which you wear every day.'
+
+'Indeed!' said Javotte, 'that is a fine idea. Lend my dress to a grubby
+cinder-slut like you--you must think me mad!'
+
+Cinderella had expected this refusal. She was in no way upset, for she
+would have been very greatly embarrassed had her sister been willing to
+lend the dress.
+
+The next day the two sisters went to the ball, and so did Cinderella,
+even more splendidly attired than the first time.
+
+The king's son was always at her elbow, and paid her endless
+compliments.
+
+The young girl enjoyed herself so much that she forgot her godmother's
+bidding completely, and when the first stroke of midnight fell upon her
+ears, she thought it was no more than eleven o'clock.
+
+She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn. The prince followed her, but
+could not catch her. She let fall one of her glass slippers, however,
+and this the prince picked up with tender care.
+
+When Cinderella reached home she was out of breath, without coach,
+without lackeys, and in her shabby clothes. Nothing remained of all her
+splendid clothes save one of the little slippers, the fellow to the one
+which she had let fall.
+
+Inquiries were made of the palace doorkeepers as to whether they had
+seen a princess go out, but they declared they had seen no one leave
+except a young girl, very ill-clad, who looked more like a peasant than
+a young lady.
+
+When her two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderella asked them if
+they had again enjoyed themselves, and if the beautiful lady had been
+there. They told her that she was present, but had fled away when
+midnight sounded, and in such haste that she had let fall one of her
+little glass slippers, the prettiest thing in the world. They added that
+the king's son, who picked it up, had done nothing but gaze at it for
+the rest of the ball, from which it was plain that he was deeply in love
+with its beautiful owner.
+
+They spoke the truth. A few days later, the king's son caused a
+proclamation to be made by trumpeters, that he would take for wife the
+owner of the foot which the slipper would fit.
+
+They tried it first on the princesses, then on the duchesses and the
+whole of the Court, but in vain. Presently they brought it to the home
+of the two sisters, who did all they could to squeeze a foot into the
+slipper. This, however, they could not manage.
+
+Cinderella was looking on and recognised her slipper:
+
+'Let me see,' she cried, laughingly, 'if it will not fit me.'
+
+[Illustration: '_They tried it first on the princesses_']
+
+Her sisters burst out laughing, and began to gibe at her, but the
+equerry who was trying on the slipper looked closely at Cinderella.
+Observing that she was very beautiful he declared that the claim was
+quite a fair one, and that his orders were to try the slipper on every
+maiden. He bade Cinderella sit down, and on putting the slipper to her
+little foot he perceived that the latter slid in without trouble, and
+was moulded to its shape like wax.
+
+Great was the astonishment of the two sisters at this, and greater still
+when Cinderella drew from her pocket the other little slipper. This she
+likewise drew on.
+
+At that very moment her godmother appeared on the scene. She gave a tap
+with her wand to Cinderella's clothes, and transformed them into a dress
+even more magnificent than her previous ones.
+
+The two sisters recognised her for the beautiful person whom they had
+seen at the ball, and threw themselves at her feet, begging her pardon
+for all the ill-treatment she had suffered at their hands.
+
+Cinderella raised them, and declaring as she embraced them that she
+pardoned them with all her heart, bade them to love her well in future.
+
+She was taken to the palace of the young prince in all her new array. He
+found her more beautiful than ever, and was married to her a few days
+afterwards.
+
+Cinderella was as good as she was beautiful. She set aside apartments in
+the palace for her two sisters, and married them the very same day to
+two gentlemen of high rank about the Court.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a little village girl, the prettiest that had
+ever been seen. Her mother doted on her. Her grandmother was even
+fonder, and made her a little red hood, which became her so well that
+everywhere she went by the name of Little Red Riding Hood.
+
+One day her mother, who had just made and baked some cakes, said to her:
+
+'Go and see how your grandmother is, for I have been told that she is
+ill. Take her a cake and this little pot of butter.'
+
+Little Red Riding Hood set off at once for the house of her grandmother,
+who lived in another village.
+
+On her way through a wood she met old Father Wolf. He would have very
+much liked to eat her, but dared not do so on account of some
+wood-cutters who were in the forest. He asked her where she was going.
+The poor child, not knowing that it was dangerous to stop and listen to
+a wolf, said:
+
+'I am going to see my grandmother, and am taking her a cake and a pot of
+butter which my mother has sent to her.'
+
+'Does she live far away?' asked the Wolf.
+
+'Oh yes,' replied Little Red Riding Hood; 'it is yonder by the mill
+which you can see right below there, and it is the first house in the
+village.'
+
+[Illustration: _Little Red Riding Hood_]
+
+'Well now,' said the Wolf, 'I think I shall go and see her too. I will
+go by this path, and you by that path, and we will see who gets there
+first.'
+
+[Illustration: '_She met old Father Wolf_']
+
+The Wolf set off running with all his might by the shorter road, and the
+little girl continued on her way by the longer road. As she went she
+amused herself by gathering nuts, running after the butterflies, and
+making nosegays of the wild flowers which she found.
+
+The Wolf was not long in reaching the grandmother's house.
+
+He knocked. _Toc Toc._
+
+'Who is there?'
+
+'It is your little daughter, Red Riding Hood,' said the Wolf, disguising
+his voice, 'and I bring you a cake and a little pot of butter as a
+present from my mother.'
+
+[Illustration: '_Making nosegays of the wild flowers_']
+
+The worthy grandmother was in bed, not being very well, and cried out to
+him:
+
+'Pull out the peg and the latch will fall.'
+
+The Wolf drew out the peg and the door flew open. Then he sprang upon
+the poor old lady and ate her up in less than no time, for he had been
+more than three days without food.
+
+After that he shut the door, lay down in the grandmother's bed, and
+waited for Little Red Riding Hood.
+
+Presently she came and knocked. _Toc Toc._
+
+'Who is there?'
+
+Now Little Red Riding Hood on hearing the Wolf's gruff voice was at
+first frightened, but thinking that her grandmother had a bad cold, she
+replied:
+
+'It is your little daughter, Red Riding Hood, and I bring you a cake and
+a little pot of butter from my mother.'
+
+[Illustration: '_Come up on the bed with me_']
+
+Softening his voice, the Wolf called out to her:
+
+'Pull out the peg and the latch will fall.'
+
+Little Red Riding Hood drew out the peg and the door flew open.
+
+When he saw her enter, the Wolf hid himself in the bed beneath the
+counterpane.
+
+'Put the cake and the little pot of butter on the bin,' he said, 'and
+come up on the bed with me.'
+
+Little Red Riding Hood took off her clothes, but when she climbed up on
+the bed she was astonished to see how her grandmother looked in her
+nightgown.
+
+'Grandmother dear!' she exclaimed, 'what big arms you have!'
+
+'The better to embrace you, my child!'
+
+'Grandmother dear, what big legs you have!'
+
+'The better to run with, my child!'
+
+'Grandmother dear, what big ears you have!'
+
+'The better to hear with, my child!'
+
+'Grandmother dear, what big eyes you have!'
+
+'The better to see with, my child!'
+
+'Grandmother dear, what big teeth you have!'
+
+'The better to eat you with!'
+
+With these words the wicked Wolf leapt upon Little Red Riding Hood and
+gobbled her up.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "'YOU MUST DIE, MADAM,' HE SAID."]
+
+BLUE BEARD
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a man who owned splendid town and country
+houses, gold and silver plate, tapestries and coaches gilt all over. But
+the poor fellow had a blue beard, and this made him so ugly and
+frightful that there was not a woman or girl who did not run away at
+sight of him.
+
+Amongst his neighbours was a lady of high degree who had two
+surpassingly beautiful daughters. He asked for the hand of one of these
+in marriage, leaving it to their mother to choose which should be
+bestowed upon him. Both girls, however, raised objections, and his offer
+was bandied from one to the other, neither being able to bring herself
+to accept a man with a blue beard. Another reason for their distaste was
+the fact that he had already married several wives, and no one knew what
+had become of them.
+
+In order that they might become better acquainted, Blue Beard invited
+the two girls, with their mother and three or four of their best
+friends, to meet a party of young men from the neighbourhood at one of
+his country houses. Here they spent eight whole days, and throughout
+their stay there was a constant round of picnics, hunting and fishing
+expeditions, dances, dinners, and luncheons; and they never slept at
+all, through spending all the night in playing merry pranks upon each
+other. In short, everything went so gaily that the younger daughter
+began to think the master of the house had not so very blue a beard
+after all, and that he was an exceedingly agreeable man. As soon as the
+party returned to town their marriage took place.
+
+At the end of a month Blue Beard informed his wife that important
+business obliged him to make a journey into a distant part of the
+country, which would occupy at least six weeks. He begged her to amuse
+herself well during his absence, and suggested that she should invite
+some of her friends and take them, if she liked, to the country. He was
+particularly anxious that she should enjoy herself thoroughly.
+
+'Here,' he said, 'are the keys of the two large storerooms, and here is
+the one that locks up the gold and silver plate which is not in everyday
+use. This key belongs to the strong-boxes where my gold and silver is
+kept, this to the caskets containing my jewels; while here you have the
+master-key which gives admittance to all the apartments. As regards this
+little key, it is the key of the small room at the end of the long
+passage on the lower floor. You may open everything, you may go
+everywhere, but I forbid you to enter this little room. And I forbid you
+so seriously that if you were indeed to open the door, I should be so
+angry that I might do anything.'
+
+She promised to follow out these instructions exactly, and after
+embracing her, Blue Beard steps into his coach and is off upon his
+journey.
+
+[Illustration: _Blue Beard_]
+
+Her neighbours and friends did not wait to be invited before coming to
+call upon the young bride, so great was their eagerness to see the
+splendours of her house. They had not dared to venture while her
+husband was there, for his blue beard frightened them. But in less than
+no time there they were, running in and out of the rooms, the closets,
+and the wardrobes, each of which was finer than the last. Presently they
+went upstairs to the storerooms, and there they could not admire enough
+the profusion and magnificence of the tapestries, beds, sofas, cabinets,
+tables, and stands. There were mirrors in which they could view
+themselves from top to toe, some with frames of plate glass, others with
+frames of silver and gilt lacquer, that were the most superb and
+beautiful things that had ever been seen. They were loud and persistent
+in their envy of their friend's good fortune. She, on the other hand,
+derived little amusement from the sight of all these riches, the reason
+being that she was impatient to go and inspect the little room on the
+lower floor.
+
+So overcome with curiosity was she that, without reflecting upon the
+discourtesy of leaving her guests, she ran down a private staircase, so
+precipitately that twice or thrice she nearly broke her neck, and so
+reached the door of the little room. There she paused for a while,
+thinking of the prohibition which her husband had made, and reflecting
+that harm might come to her as a result of disobedience. But the
+temptation was so great that she could not conquer it. Taking the little
+key, with a trembling hand she opened the door of the room.
+
+At first she saw nothing, for the windows were closed, but after a few
+moments she perceived dimly that the floor was entirely covered with
+clotted blood, and that in this were reflected the dead bodies of
+several women that hung along the walls. These were all the wives of
+Blue Beard, whose throats he had cut, one after another.
+
+She thought to die of terror, and the key of the room, which she had
+just withdrawn from the lock, fell from her hand.
+
+When she had somewhat regained her senses, she picked up the key, closed
+the door, and went up to her chamber to compose herself a little. But
+this she could not do, for her nerves were too shaken. Noticing that the
+key of the little room was stained with blood, she wiped it two or three
+times. But the blood did not go. She washed it well, and even rubbed it
+with sand and grit. Always the blood remained. For the key was
+bewitched, and there was no means of cleaning it completely. When the
+blood was removed from one side, it reappeared on the other.
+
+[Illustration: '_She washed it well_']
+
+Blue Beard returned from his journey that very evening. He had received
+some letters on the way, he said, from which he learned that the
+business upon which he had set forth had just been concluded to his
+satisfaction. His wife did everything she could to make it appear
+that she was delighted by his speedy return.
+
+[Illustration: _Sister Anne_]
+
+On the morrow he demanded the keys. She gave them to him, but with so
+trembling a hand that he guessed at once what had happened.
+
+'How comes it,' he said to her, 'that the key of the little room is not
+with the others?'
+
+'I must have left it upstairs upon my table,' she said.
+
+'Do not fail to bring it to me presently,' said Blue Beard.
+
+After several delays the key had to be brought. Blue Beard examined it,
+and addressed his wife.
+
+'Why is there blood on this key?'
+
+'I do not know at all,' replied the poor woman, paler than death.
+
+'You do not know at all?' exclaimed Blue Beard; 'I know well enough. You
+wanted to enter the little room! Well, madam, enter it you shall--you
+shall go and take your place among the ladies you have seen there.'
+
+She threw herself at her husband's feet, asking his pardon with tears,
+and with all the signs of a true repentance for her disobedience. She
+would have softened a rock, in her beauty and distress, but Blue Beard
+had a heart harder than any stone.
+
+'You must die, madam,' he said; 'and at once.'
+
+'Since I must die,' she replied, gazing at him with eyes that were wet
+with tears, 'give me a little time to say my prayers.'
+
+'I give you one quarter of an hour,' replied Blue Beard, 'but not a
+moment longer.'
+
+When the poor girl was alone, she called her sister to her and said:
+
+'Sister Anne'--for that was her name--'go up, I implore you, to the top
+of the tower, and see if my brothers are not approaching. They promised
+that they would come and visit me to-day. If you see them, make signs to
+them to hasten.'
+
+Sister Anne went up to the top of the tower, and the poor unhappy girl
+cried out to her from time to time:
+
+'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'
+
+And Sister Anne replied:
+
+'I see nought but dust in the sun and the green grass growing.'
+
+Presently Blue Beard, grasping a great cutlass, cried out at the top of
+his voice:
+
+'Come down quickly, or I shall come upstairs myself.'
+
+'Oh please, one moment more,' called out his wife.
+
+And at the same moment she cried in a whisper:
+
+'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'
+
+'I see nought but dust in the sun and the green grass growing.'
+
+'Come down at once, I say,' shouted Blue Beard, 'or I will come upstairs
+myself.'
+
+'I am coming,' replied his wife.
+
+Then she called:
+
+'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'
+
+'I see,' replied Sister Anne, 'a great cloud of dust which comes this
+way.'
+
+'Is it my brothers?'
+
+'Alas, sister, no; it is but a flock of sheep.'
+
+'Do you refuse to come down?' roared Blue Beard.
+
+[Illustration: '_Brandishing the cutlass aloft_']
+
+'One little moment more,' exclaimed his wife.
+
+Once more she cried:
+
+'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'
+
+'I see,' replied her sister, 'two horsemen who come this way, but they
+are as yet a long way off.... Heaven be praised,' she exclaimed a moment
+later, 'they are my brothers.... I am signalling to them all I can to
+hasten.'
+
+Blue Beard let forth so mighty a shout that the whole house shook. The
+poor wife went down and cast herself at his feet, all dishevelled and in
+tears.
+
+'That avails you nothing,' said Blue Beard; 'you must die.'
+
+Seizing her by the hair with one hand, and with the other brandishing
+the cutlass aloft, he made as if to cut off her head.
+
+The poor woman, turning towards him and fixing a dying gaze upon him,
+begged for a brief moment in which to collect her thoughts.
+
+'No! no!' he cried; 'commend your soul to Heaven.' And raising his
+arm----
+
+At this very moment there came so loud a knocking at the gate that Blue
+Beard stopped short. The gate was opened, and two horsemen dashed in,
+who drew their swords and rode straight at Blue Beard. The latter
+recognised them as the brothers of his wife--one of them a dragoon, and
+the other a musketeer--and fled instantly in an effort to escape. But
+the two brothers were so close upon him that they caught him ere he
+could gain the first flight of steps. They plunged their swords through
+his body and left him dead. The poor woman was nearly as dead as her
+husband, and had not the strength to rise and embrace her brothers.
+
+It was found that Blue Beard had no heirs, and that consequently his
+wife became mistress of all his wealth. She devoted a portion to
+arranging a marriage between her sister Anne and a young gentleman with
+whom the latter had been for some time in love, while another portion
+purchased a captain's commission for each of her brothers. The rest
+formed a dowry for her own marriage with a very worthy man, who banished
+from her mind all memory of the evil days she had spent with Blue
+Beard.
+
+
+
+
+BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a merchant who was exceedingly rich. He had
+six children--three boys and three girls--and being a sensible man he
+spared no expense upon their education, but engaged tutors of every kind
+for them. All his daughters were pretty, but the youngest especially was
+admired by everybody. When she was small she was known simply as 'the
+little beauty,' and this name stuck to her, causing a great deal of
+jealousy on the part of her sisters.
+
+This youngest girl was not only prettier than her sisters, but very much
+nicer. The two elder girls were very arrogant as a result of their
+wealth; they pretended to be great ladies, declining to receive the
+daughters of other merchants, and associating only with people of
+quality. Every day they went off to balls and theatres, and for walks in
+the park, with many a gibe at their little sister, who spent much of her
+time in reading good books.
+
+Now these girls were known to be very rich, and in consequence were
+sought in marriage by many prominent merchants. The two eldest said they
+would never marry unless they could find a duke, or at least a count.
+But Beauty--this, as I have mentioned, was the name by which the
+youngest was known--very politely thanked all who proposed marriage to
+her, and said that she was too young at present, and that she wished to
+keep her father company for several years yet.
+
+Suddenly the merchant lost his fortune, the sole property which remained
+to him being a small house in the country, a long way from the capital.
+With tears he broke it to his children that they would have to move to
+this house, where by working like peasants they might just be able to
+live.
+
+The two elder girls replied that they did not wish to leave the town,
+and that they had several admirers who would be only too happy to marry
+them, notwithstanding their loss of fortune. But the simple maidens were
+mistaken: their admirers would no longer look at them, now that they
+were poor. Everybody disliked them on account of their arrogance, and
+folks declared that they did not deserve pity: in fact, that it was a
+good thing their pride had had a fall--a turn at minding sheep would
+teach them how to play the fine lady! 'But we are very sorry for
+Beauty's misfortune,' everybody added; 'she is such a dear girl, and was
+always so considerate to poor people: so gentle, and with such charming
+manners!'
+
+There were even several worthy men who would have married her, despite
+the fact that she was now penniless; but she told them she could not
+make up her mind to leave her poor father in his misfortune, and that
+she intended to go with him to the country, to comfort him and help him
+to work. Poor Beauty had been very grieved at first over the loss of her
+fortune, but she said to herself:
+
+'However much I cry, I shall not recover my wealth, so I must try to be
+happy without it.'
+
+When they were established in the country the merchant and his family
+started working on the land. Beauty used to rise at four o'clock in the
+morning, and was busy all day looking after the house, and preparing
+dinner for the family. At first she found it very hard, for she was not
+accustomed to work like a servant, but at the end of a couple of months
+she grew stronger, and her health was improved by the work. When she had
+leisure she read, or played the harpsichord, or sang at her
+spinning-wheel.
+
+[Illustration: '_At first she found it very hard_']
+
+Her two sisters, on the other hand, were bored to death; they did not
+get up till ten o'clock in the morning, and they idled about all day.
+Their only diversion was to bemoan the beautiful clothes they used to
+wear and the company they used to keep. 'Look at our little sister,'
+they would say to each other; 'her tastes are so low and her mind so
+stupid that she is quite content with this miserable state of affairs.'
+
+The good merchant did not share the opinion of his two daughters, for he
+knew that Beauty was more fitted to shine in company than her sisters.
+He was greatly impressed by the girl's good qualities, and especially by
+her patience--for her sisters, not content with leaving her all the work
+of the house, never missed an opportunity of insulting her.
+
+They had been living for a year in this seclusion when the merchant
+received a letter informing him that a ship on which he had some
+merchandise had just come safely home. The news nearly turned the heads
+of the two elder girls, for they thought that at last they would be able
+to quit their dull life in the country. When they saw their father ready
+to set out they begged him to bring them back dresses, furs, caps, and
+finery of every kind. Beauty asked for nothing, thinking to herself that
+all the money which the merchandise might yield would not be enough to
+satisfy her sisters' demands.
+
+'You have not asked me for anything,' said her father.
+
+'As you are so kind as to think of me,' she replied, 'please bring me a
+rose, for there are none here.'
+
+Beauty had no real craving for a rose, but she was anxious not to seem
+to disparage the conduct of her sisters. The latter would have declared
+that she purposely asked for nothing in order to be different from them.
+
+[Illustration: '"_Look at our little sister_"']
+
+The merchant duly set forth; but when he reached his destination
+there was a law-suit over his merchandise, and after much trouble he
+returned poorer than he had been before. With only thirty miles to go
+before reaching home, he was already looking forward to the pleasure of
+seeing his children again, when he found he had to pass through a large
+wood. Here he lost himself. It was snowing horribly; the wind was so
+strong that twice he was thrown from his horse, and when night came on
+he made up his mind he must either die of hunger and cold or be eaten by
+the wolves that he could hear howling all about him.
+
+[Illustration: '_It was snowing horribly_']
+
+Suddenly he saw, at the end of a long avenue of trees, a strong light.
+It seemed to be some distance away, but he walked towards it, and
+presently discovered that it came from a large palace, which was all lit
+up.
+
+The merchant thanked heaven for sending him this help, and hastened to
+the castle. To his surprise, however, he found no one about in the
+courtyards. His horse, which had followed him, saw a large stable open
+and went in; and on finding hay and oats in readiness the poor animal,
+which was dying of hunger, set to with a will. The merchant tied him up
+in the stable, and approached the house, where he found not a soul. He
+entered a large room; here there was a good fire, and a table laden with
+food, but with a place laid for one only. The rain and snow had soaked
+him to the skin, so he drew near the fire to dry himself. 'I am sure,'
+he remarked to himself, 'that the master of this house or his servants
+will forgive the liberty I am taking; doubtless they will be here soon.'
+
+He waited some considerable time; but eleven o'clock struck and still he
+had seen nobody. Being no longer able to resist his hunger he took a
+chicken and devoured it in two mouthfuls, trembling. Then he drank
+several glasses of wine, and becoming bolder ventured out of the room.
+He went through several magnificently furnished apartments, and finally
+found a room with a very good bed. It was now past midnight, and as he
+was very tired he decided to shut the door and go to bed.
+
+It was ten o'clock the next morning when he rose, and he was greatly
+astonished to find a new suit in place of his own, which had been
+spoilt. 'This palace,' he said to himself, 'must surely belong to some
+good fairy, who has taken pity on my plight.'
+
+He looked out of the window. The snow had vanished, and his eyes rested
+instead upon arbours of flowers--a charming spectacle. He went back to
+the room where he had supped the night before, and found there a little
+table with a cup of chocolate on it. 'I thank you, Madam Fairy,' he said
+aloud, 'for being so kind as to think of my breakfast.'
+
+Having drunk his chocolate the good man went forth to look for his
+horse. As he passed under a bower of roses he remembered that Beauty had
+asked for one, and he plucked a spray from a mass of blooms. The very
+same moment he heard a terrible noise, and saw a beast coming towards
+him which was so hideous that he came near to fainting.
+
+'Ungrateful wretch!' said the Beast, in a dreadful voice; 'I have saved
+your life by receiving you into my castle, and in return for my trouble
+you steal that which I love better than anything in the world--my roses.
+You shall pay for this with your life! I give you fifteen minutes to
+make your peace with Heaven.'
+
+The merchant threw himself on his knees and wrung his hands. 'Pardon, my
+lord!' he cried; 'one of my daughters had asked for a rose, and I did
+not dream I should be giving offence by picking one.'
+
+'I am not called "my lord,"' answered the monster, 'but "The Beast." I
+have no liking for compliments, but prefer people to say what they
+think. Do not hope therefore to soften me by flattery. You have
+daughters, you say; well, I am willing to pardon you if one of your
+daughters will come, of her own choice, to die in your place. Do not
+argue with me--go! And swear that if your daughters refuse to die in
+your place you will come back again in three months.'
+
+[Illustration: _The Beast_]
+
+The good man had no intention of sacrificing one of his daughters to
+this hideous monster, but he thought that at least he might have the
+pleasure of kissing them once again. He therefore swore to return, and
+the Beast told him he could go when he wished. 'I do not wish you to go
+empty-handed,' he added; 'return to the room where you slept; you will
+find there a large empty box. Fill it with what you will; I will have it
+sent home for you.'
+
+With these words the Beast withdrew, leaving the merchant to reflect
+that if he must indeed die, at all events he would have the consolation
+of providing for his poor children.
+
+He went back to the room where he had slept. He found there a large
+number of gold pieces, and with these he filled the box the Beast had
+mentioned. Having closed the latter, he took his horse, which was still
+in the stable, and set forth from the palace, as melancholy now as he
+had been joyous when he entered it.
+
+The horse of its own accord took one of the forest roads, and in a few
+hours the good man reached his own little house. His children crowded
+round him, but at sight of them, instead of welcoming their caresses, he
+burst into tears. In his hand was the bunch of roses which he had
+brought for Beauty, and he gave it to her with these words:
+
+'Take these roses, Beauty; it is dearly that your poor father will have
+to pay for them.'
+
+Thereupon he told his family of the dire adventure which had befallen
+him. On hearing the tale the two elder girls were in a great commotion,
+and began to upbraid Beauty for not weeping as they did. 'See to what
+her smugness has brought this young chit,' they said; 'surely she might
+strive to find some way out of this trouble, as we do! But oh, dear me,
+no; her ladyship is so determined to be different that she can speak of
+her father's death without a tear!'
+
+'It would be quite useless to weep,' said Beauty. 'Why should I lament
+my father's death? He is not going to die. Since the monster agrees to
+accept a daughter instead, I intend to offer myself to appease his fury.
+It will be a happiness to do so, for in dying I shall have the joy of
+saving my father, and of proving to him my devotion.'
+
+'No, sister,' said her three brothers; 'you shall not die; we will go in
+quest of this monster, and will perish under his blows if we cannot kill
+him.'
+
+'Do not entertain any such hopes, my children,' said the merchant; 'the
+power of this Beast is so great that I have not the slightest
+expectation of escaping him. I am touched by the goodness of Beauty's
+heart, but I will not expose her to death. I am old and have not much
+longer to live; and I shall merely lose a few years that will be
+regretted only on account of you, my dear children.'
+
+'I can assure you, father,' said Beauty, 'that you will not go to this
+palace without me. You cannot prevent me from following you. Although I
+am young I am not so very deeply in love with life, and I would rather
+be devoured by this monster than die of the grief which your loss would
+cause me.' Words were useless. Beauty was quite determined to go to this
+wonderful palace, and her sisters were not sorry, for they regarded her
+good qualities with deep jealousy.
+
+The merchant was so taken up with the sorrow of losing his daughter that
+he forgot all about the box which he had filled with gold. To his
+astonishment, when he had shut the door of his room and was about to
+retire for the night, there it was at the side of his bed! He decided
+not to tell his children that he had become so rich, for his elder
+daughters would have wanted to go back to town, and he had resolved to
+die in the country. He did confide his secret to Beauty, however, and
+the latter told him that during his absence they had entertained some
+visitors, amongst whom were two admirers of her sisters. She begged her
+father to let them marry; for she was of such a sweet nature that she
+loved them, and forgave them with all her heart the evil they had done
+her.
+
+When Beauty set off with her father the two heartless girls rubbed their
+eyes with an onion, so as to seem tearful; but her brothers wept in
+reality, as did also the merchant. Beauty alone did not cry, because she
+did not want to add to their sorrow.
+
+The horse took the road to the palace, and by evening they espied it,
+all lit up as before. An empty stable awaited the nag, and when the good
+merchant and his daughter entered the great hall, they found there a
+table magnificently laid for two people. The merchant had not the heart
+to eat, but Beauty, forcing herself to appear calm, sat down and served
+him. Since the Beast had provided such splendid fare, she thought to
+herself, he must presumably be anxious to fatten her up before eating
+her.
+
+When they had finished supper they heard a terrible noise. With tears
+the merchant bade farewell to his daughter, for he knew it was the
+Beast. Beauty herself could not help trembling at the awful apparition,
+but she did her best to compose herself. The Beast asked her if she had
+come of her own free will, and she timidly answered that such was the
+case.
+
+'You are indeed kind,' said the Beast, 'and I am much obliged to you.
+You, my good man, will depart to-morrow morning, and you must not think
+of coming back again. Good-bye, Beauty!'
+
+'Good-bye, Beast!' she answered.
+
+Thereupon the monster suddenly disappeared.
+
+'Daughter,' said the merchant, embracing Beauty, 'I am nearly dead with
+fright. Let me be the one to stay here!'
+
+'No, father,' said Beauty, firmly, 'you must go to-morrow morning, and
+leave me to the mercy of Heaven. Perhaps pity will be taken on me.'
+
+They retired to rest, thinking they would not sleep at all during the
+night, but they were hardly in bed before their eyes were closed in
+sleep. In her dreams there appeared to Beauty a lady, who said to her:
+
+'Your virtuous character pleases me, Beauty. In thus undertaking to give
+your life to save your father you have performed an act of goodness
+which shall not go unrewarded.'
+
+When she woke up Beauty related this dream to her father. He was
+somewhat consoled by it, but could not refrain from loudly giving vent
+to his grief when the time came to tear himself away from his beloved
+child.
+
+As soon as he had gone Beauty sat down in the great hall and began to
+cry. But she had plenty of courage, and after imploring divine
+protection she determined to grieve no more during the short time she
+had yet to live.
+
+She was convinced that the Beast would devour her that night, but made
+up her mind that in the interval she would walk about and have a look at
+this beautiful castle, the splendour of which she could not but admire.
+
+Imagine her surprise when she came upon a door on which were the words
+'Beauty's Room'! She quickly opened this door, and was dazzled by the
+magnificence of the appointments within. 'They are evidently anxious
+that I should not be dull,' she murmured, as she caught sight of a
+large bookcase, a harpsichord, and several volumes of music. A moment
+later another thought crossed her mind. 'If I had only a day to spend
+here,' she reflected, 'such provision would surely not have been made
+for me.'
+
+This notion gave her fresh courage. She opened the bookcase, and found a
+book in which was written, in letters of gold:
+
+'Ask for anything you wish: you are mistress of all here.'
+
+'Alas!' she said with a sigh, 'my only wish is to see my poor father,
+and to know what he is doing.'
+
+As she said this to herself she glanced at a large mirror. Imagine her
+astonishment when she perceived her home reflected in it, and saw her
+father just approaching. Sorrow was written on his face; but when her
+sisters came to meet him it was impossible not to detect, despite the
+grimaces with which they tried to simulate grief, the satisfaction they
+felt at the loss of their sister. In a moment the vision faded away, yet
+Beauty could not but think that the Beast was very kind, and that she
+had nothing much to fear from him.
+
+At midday she found the table laid, and during her meal she enjoyed an
+excellent concert, though the performers were invisible. But in the
+evening, as she was about to sit down at the table, she heard the noise
+made by the Beast, and quaked in spite of herself.
+
+'Beauty,' said the monster to her, 'may I watch you have your supper?'
+
+'You are master here,' said the trembling Beauty.
+
+'Not so,' replied the Beast; 'it is you who are mistress; you have only
+to tell me to go, if my presence annoys you, and I will go immediately.
+Tell me, now, do you not consider me very ugly?'
+
+'I do,' said Beauty, 'since I must speak the truth; but I think you are
+also very kind.'
+
+'It is as you say,' said the monster; 'and in addition to being ugly, I
+lack intelligence. As I am well aware, I am a mere beast.'
+
+'It is not the way with stupid people,' answered Beauty, 'to admit a
+lack of intelligence. Fools never realise it.'
+
+'Sup well, Beauty,' said the monster, 'and try to banish dulness from
+your home--for all about you is yours, and I should be sorry to think
+you were not happy.'
+
+'You are indeed kind,' said Beauty. 'With one thing, I must own, I am
+well pleased, and that is your kind heart. When I think of that you no
+longer seem to be ugly.'
+
+'Oh yes,' answered the Beast, 'I have a good heart, right enough, but I
+am a monster.'
+
+'There are many men,' said Beauty, 'who make worse monsters than you,
+and I prefer you, notwithstanding your looks, to those who under the
+semblance of men hide false, corrupt, and ungrateful hearts.'
+
+The Beast replied that if only he had a grain of wit he would compliment
+her in the grand style by way of thanks; but that being so stupid he
+could only say he was much obliged.
+
+Beauty ate with a good appetite, for she now had scarcely any fear of
+the Beast. But she nearly died of fright when he put this question to
+her:
+
+'Beauty, will you be my wife?'
+
+For some time she did not answer, fearing lest she might anger the
+monster by her refusal. She summoned up courage at last to say, rather
+fearfully, 'No, Beast!'
+
+The poor monster gave forth so terrible a sigh that the noise of it went
+whistling through the whole palace. But to Beauty's speedy relief the
+Beast sadly took his leave and left the room, turning several times as
+he did so to look once more at her. Left alone, Beauty was moved by
+great compassion for this poor Beast. 'What a pity he is so ugly,' she
+said, 'for he is so good.'
+
+Beauty passed three months in the palace quietly enough. Every evening
+the Beast paid her a visit, and entertained her at supper by a display
+of much good sense, if not with what the world calls wit. And every day
+Beauty was made aware of fresh kindnesses on the part of the monster.
+Through seeing him often she had become accustomed to his ugliness, and
+far from dreading the moment of his visit, she frequently looked at her
+watch to see if it was nine o'clock, the hour when the Beast always
+appeared.
+
+One thing alone troubled Beauty; every evening, before retiring to bed,
+the monster asked her if she would be his wife, and seemed overwhelmed
+with grief when she refused. One day she said to him:
+
+'You distress me, Beast. I wish I could marry you, but I cannot deceive
+you by allowing you to believe that that can ever be. I will always be
+your friend--be content with that.'
+
+'Needs must,' said the Beast. 'But let me make the position plain. I
+know I am very terrible, but I love you very much, and I shall be very
+happy if you will only remain here. Promise that you will never leave
+me.'
+
+Beauty blushed at these words. She had seen in her mirror that her
+father was stricken down by the sorrow of having lost her, and she
+wished very much to see him again. 'I would willingly promise to remain
+with you always,' she said to the Beast, 'but I have so great a desire
+to see my father again that I shall die of grief if you refuse me this
+boon.'
+
+'I would rather die myself than cause you grief,' said the monster. 'I
+will send you back to your father. You shall stay with him, and your
+Beast shall die of sorrow at your departure.'
+
+'No, no,' said Beauty, crying; 'I like you too much to wish to cause
+your death. I promise you I will return in eight days. You have shown me
+that my sisters are married, and that my brothers have joined the army.
+My father is all alone; let me stay with him one week.'
+
+'You shall be with him to-morrow morning,' said the Beast. 'But remember
+your promise. All you have to do when you want to return is to put your
+ring on a table when you are going to bed. Good-bye, Beauty!'
+
+As usual, the Beast sighed when he said these last words, and Beauty
+went to bed quite down-hearted at having grieved him.
+
+[Illustration: "EVERY EVENING THE BEAST PAID HER A VISIT."]
+
+When she woke the next morning she found she was in her father's house.
+She rang a little bell which stood by the side of her bed, and it was
+answered by their servant, who gave a great cry at sight of her. The
+good man came running at the noise, and was overwhelmed with joy at the
+sight of his dear daughter. Their embraces lasted for more than a
+quarter of an hour. When their transports had subsided, it occurred to
+Beauty that she had no clothes to put on; but the servant told her that
+she had just discovered in the next room a chest full of dresses trimmed
+with gold and studded with diamonds. Beauty felt grateful to the
+Beast for this attention, and having selected the simplest of the gowns
+she bade the servant pack up the others, as she wished to send them as
+presents to her sisters. The words were hardly out of her mouth when the
+chest disappeared. Her father expressed the opinion that the Beast
+wished her to keep them all for herself, and in a trice dresses and
+chest were back again where they were before.
+
+When Beauty had dressed she learned that her sisters, with their
+husbands, had arrived. Both were very unhappy. The eldest had wedded an
+exceedingly handsome man, but the latter was so taken up with his own
+looks that he studied them from morning to night, and despised his
+wife's beauty. The second had married a man with plenty of brains, but
+he only used them to pay insults to everybody--his wife first and
+foremost.
+
+The sisters were greatly mortified when they saw Beauty dressed like a
+princess, and more beautiful than the dawn. Her caresses were ignored,
+and the jealousy which they could not stifle only grew worse when she
+told them how happy she was. Out into the garden went the envious pair,
+there to vent their spleen to the full.
+
+'Why should this chit be happier than we are?' each demanded of the
+other; 'are we not much nicer than she is?'
+
+'Sister,' said the elder, 'I have an idea. Let us try to persuade her to
+stay here longer than the eight days. Her stupid Beast will fly into a
+rage when he finds she has broken her word, and will very likely devour
+her.'
+
+'You are right, sister,' said the other; 'but we must make a great fuss
+of her if we are to make the plan successful.'
+
+With this plot decided upon they went upstairs again, and paid such
+attention to their little sister that Beauty wept for joy. When the
+eight days had passed the two sisters tore their hair, and showed such
+grief over her departure that she promised to remain another eight days.
+
+Beauty reproached herself, nevertheless, with the grief she was causing
+to the poor Beast; moreover, she greatly missed not seeing him. On the
+tenth night of her stay in her father's house she dreamed that she was
+in the palace garden, where she saw the Beast lying on the grass nearly
+dead, and that he upbraided her for her ingratitude. Beauty woke up with
+a start, and burst into tears.
+
+'I am indeed very wicked,' she said, 'to cause so much grief to a Beast
+who has shown me nothing but kindness. Is it his fault that he is so
+ugly, and has so few wits? He is good, and that makes up for all the
+rest. Why did I not wish to marry him? I should have been a good deal
+happier with him than my sisters are with their husbands. It is neither
+good looks nor brains in a husband that make a woman happy; it is beauty
+of character, virtue, kindness. All these qualities the Beast has. I
+admit I have no love for him, but he has my esteem, friendship, and
+gratitude. At all events I must not make him miserable, or I shall
+reproach myself all my life.'
+
+With these words Beauty rose and placed her ring on the table.
+
+Hardly had she returned to her bed than she was asleep, and when she
+woke the next morning she saw with joy that she was in the Beast's
+palace. She dressed in her very best on purpose to please him, and
+nearly died of impatience all day, waiting for nine o'clock in the
+evening. But the clock struck in vain: no Beast appeared. Beauty now
+thought she must have caused his death, and rushed about the palace with
+loud despairing cries. She looked everywhere, and at last, recalling her
+dream, dashed into the garden by the canal, where she had seen him in
+her sleep. There she found the poor Beast lying unconscious, and thought
+he must be dead. She threw herself on his body, all her horror of his
+looks forgotten, and, feeling his heart still beat, fetched water from
+the canal and threw it on his face.
+
+The Beast opened his eyes and said to Beauty:
+
+'You forgot your promise. The grief I felt at having lost you made me
+resolve to die of hunger; but I die content since I have the pleasure of
+seeing you once more.'
+
+'Dear Beast, you shall not die,' said Beauty; 'you shall live and become
+my husband. Here and now I offer you my hand, and swear that I will
+marry none but you. Alas, I fancied I felt only friendship for you, but
+the sorrow I have experienced clearly proves to me that I cannot live
+without you.'
+
+Beauty had scarce uttered these words when the castle became ablaze with
+lights before her eyes: fireworks, music--all proclaimed a feast. But
+these splendours were lost on her: she turned to her dear Beast, still
+trembling for his danger.
+
+Judge of her surprise now! At her feet she saw no longer the Beast, who
+had disappeared, but a prince, more beautiful than Love himself, who
+thanked her for having put an end to his enchantment. With good reason
+were her eyes riveted upon the prince, but she asked him nevertheless
+where the Beast had gone.
+
+'You see him at your feet,' answered the prince. 'A wicked fairy
+condemned me to retain that form until some beautiful girl should
+consent to marry me, and she forbade me to betray any sign of
+intelligence. You alone in all the world could show yourself susceptible
+to the kindness of my character, and in offering you my crown I do but
+discharge the obligation that I owe you.'
+
+In agreeable surprise Beauty offered her hand to the handsome prince,
+and assisted him to rise. Together they repaired to the castle, and
+Beauty was overcome with joy to find, assembled in the hall, her father
+and her entire family. The lady who had appeared to her in her dream had
+had them transported to the castle.
+
+[Illustration: '"_Your doom is to become statues_"']
+
+'Beauty,' said this lady (who was a celebrated fairy), 'come and receive
+the reward of your noble choice. You preferred merit to either beauty or
+wit, and you certainly deserve to find these qualities combined in one
+person. It is your destiny to become a great queen, but I hope that the
+pomp of royalty will not destroy your virtues. As for you, ladies,' she
+continued, turning to Beauty's two sisters, 'I know your hearts and the
+malice they harbour. Your doom is to become statues, and under the stone
+that wraps you round to retain all your feelings. You will stand at the
+door of your sister's palace, and I can visit no greater punishment upon
+you than that you shall be witnesses of her happiness. Only when you
+recognise your faults can you return to your present shape, and I am
+very much afraid that you will be statues for ever. Pride, ill-temper,
+greed, and laziness can all be corrected, but nothing short of a
+miracle will turn a wicked and envious heart.'
+
+In a trice, with a tap of her hand, the fairy transported them all to
+the prince's realm, where his subjects were delighted to see him again.
+He married Beauty, and they lived together for a long time in happiness
+the more perfect because it was founded on virtue.
+
+
+
+
+THE FRIENDLY FROG
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a king who had been at war for a long time
+with his neighbours. After many battles had been fought his capital was
+besieged by the enemy. Fearing for the safety of the queen, the king
+implored her to take refuge in a stronghold to which he himself had
+never been but once. The queen besought him with tears to let her remain
+at his side, and share his fate, and lamented loudly when the king
+placed her in the carriage which was to take her away under escort.
+
+The king promised to slip away whenever possible and pay her a visit,
+seeking thus to comfort her, although he knew that there was small
+chance of the hope being fulfilled. For the castle was a long way off,
+in the midst of a dense forest, and only those with a thorough knowledge
+of the roads could possibly reach it.
+
+The queen was broken-hearted at having to leave her husband exposed to
+the perils of war, and though she made her journey by easy stages, lest
+the fatigue of so much travelling should make her ill, she was downcast
+and miserable when at length she reached the castle. She made excursions
+into the country round about, when sufficiently recovered, but found
+nothing to amuse or distract her. On all sides wide barren spaces met
+her eye, melancholy rather than pleasant to look upon.
+
+'How different from my old home!' she exclaimed, as she gloomily
+surveyed the scene; 'if I stay here long I shall die. To whom can I talk
+in this solitude? To whom can I unburden my grief? What have I done that
+the king should exile me? He must wish me, I suppose, to feel the
+bitterness of separation to the utmost, since he banishes me to this
+hateful castle.'
+
+She grieved long and deeply, and though the king wrote every day to her
+with good news of the way the siege was going, she became more and more
+unhappy. At last she determined that she would go back to him, but
+knowing that her attendants had been forbidden to let her return, except
+under special orders from the king, she kept her intention to herself.
+On the pretext of wishing sometimes to join the hunt, she ordered a
+small chariot, capable of accommodating one person only, to be built for
+her. This she drove herself, and used to keep up with the hounds so
+closely that she would leave the rest of the hunt behind. The chariot
+being in her sole control, this gave her the opportunity to escape
+whenever she liked, and the only obstacle was her lack of familiarity
+with the roads through the forest. She trusted, however, to the favour
+of Providence to bring her safely through it.
+
+She now gave orders for a great hunt to be held, and intimated her wish
+that every one should attend. She herself was to be present in her
+chariot, and she proposed that every follower of the chase should choose
+a different line, and so close every avenue of escape to the quarry. The
+arrangements were carried out according to the queen's plan. Confident
+that she would soon see her husband again, she donned her most becoming
+attire. Her hat was trimmed with feathers of different colours, the
+front of her dress with a number of precious stones. Thus adorned, she
+looked in her beauty (which was of no ordinary stamp) like a second
+Diana.
+
+When the excitement of the chase was at its height she gave rein to her
+horses, urging them on with voice and whip, until their pace quickened
+to a gallop. But then, getting their bits between their teeth, the team
+sped onwards so fast that presently the chariot seemed to be borne upon
+the wind, and to be travelling faster than the eye could follow. Too
+late the poor queen repented of her rashness. 'What possessed me,' she
+cried, 'to think that I could manage such wild and fiery steeds? Alack!
+What will become of me! What would the king do if he knew of my great
+peril? He only sent me away because he loves me dearly, and wished me to
+be in greater safety--and this is the way I repay his tender care!'
+
+Her piteous cries rang out upon the air, but though she called on Heaven
+and invoked the fairies to her aid, it seemed that all the unseen powers
+had forsaken her.
+
+Over went the chariot. She lacked the strength to jump clear quickly
+enough, and her foot was caught between the wheel and the axle-tree. It
+was only by a miracle that she was not killed, and she lay stretched on
+the ground at the foot of a tree, with her heart scarcely beating and
+her face covered with blood, unable to speak.
+
+For a long time she lay thus. At last she opened her eyes and saw,
+standing beside her, a woman of gigantic stature. The latter wore nought
+but a lion's skin; her arms and legs were bare, and her hair was tied up
+with a dried snake's skin, the head of which dangled over her shoulder.
+In her hand she carried, for walking-stick, a stone club, and a quiver
+full of arrows hung at her side.
+
+This extraordinary apparition convinced the queen that she was dead, and
+indeed it seemed impossible that she could have survived so terrible a
+disaster. 'No wonder death needs resolution,' she murmured, 'since
+sights so terrible await one in the other world.'
+
+The giantess overheard these words, and laughed to find the queen
+thought herself dead.
+
+'Courage,' she said; 'you are still in the land of the living, though
+your lot is not improved. I am the Lion-Witch. My dwelling is near by;
+you must come and live with me.'
+
+'If you will have the kindness, good Lion-Witch, to take me back to my
+castle, the king, who loves me dearly, will not refuse you any ransom
+you demand, though it were the half of his kingdom.'
+
+'I will not do that,' replied the giantess, 'for I have wealth enough
+already. Moreover, I am tired of living alone, and as you have your wits
+about you it is possible you may be able to amuse me.'
+
+With these words she assumed the shape of a lioness, and taking the
+queen on her back, bore her off into the depths of a cavern. There she
+anointed the queen's wounds with an essence which quickly healed them.
+
+But imagine the wonder and despair of the queen to find herself in this
+dismal lair! The approach to it was by ten thousand steps, which led
+downward to the centre of the earth, and the only light was that which
+came from a number of lofty lamps, reflected in a lake of quicksilver.
+This lake teemed with monsters, each of which was hideous enough to
+have terrified one far less timid than the queen. Ravens, screech-owls,
+and many another bird of evil omen filled the air with harsh cries. Far
+off could be espied a mountain, from the slopes of which there flowed
+the tears of all hapless lovers. Its sluggish stream was fed by every
+ill-starred love. The trees had neither leaves nor fruit, and the ground
+was cumbered with briars, nettles, and rank weeds. The food, too, was
+such as might be expected in such a horrid clime. A few dried roots,
+horse-chestnuts, and thorn-apples--this was all the fare with which the
+Lion-Witch appeased the hunger of those who fell into her clutches.
+
+When the queen was well enough to be set to work, the Witch told her she
+might build herself a hut, since she was fated to remain in her company
+for the rest of her life. On hearing this the queen burst into tears.
+'Alas!' she cried, 'what have I done that you should keep me here? If my
+death, which I feel to be nigh, will cause you any pleasure, then I
+implore you to kill me: I dare not hope for any other kindness from you.
+But do not condemn me to the sadness of a life-long separation from my
+husband.'
+
+But the Lion-Witch merely laughed at her, bidding her dry her tears, if
+she would be wise, and do her part to please her. Otherwise, she
+declared, her lot would be the most miserable in the world.
+
+'And what must I do to soften your heart?' replied the queen.
+
+'I have a liking for fly-pasties,' said the Lion-Witch; 'and you must
+contrive to catch flies enough to make me a large and tasty one.'
+
+[Illustration: '_The approach to it was by ten thousand steps_']
+
+'But there are no flies here,' rejoined the queen; 'and even if there
+were there is not enough light to catch them by. Moreover, supposing I
+caught some, I have never in my life made pastry. You are therefore
+giving me orders which I cannot possibly carry out.'
+
+'No matter,' said the pitiless Lion-Witch; 'what I want I will have!'
+
+The queen made no reply, but reflected that, no matter how cruel the
+Witch might be, she had only one life to lose, and in her present plight
+what terror could death hold for her? She did not attempt to look for
+flies, therefore, but sat down beneath a yew tree, and gave way to tears
+and lamentations. 'Alas, dear husband,' she cried, 'how grieved you will
+be when you go to fetch me from the castle, and find me gone! You will
+suppose me to be dead or faithless; how I hope that you will mourn the
+loss of my life, not the loss of my love! Perhaps the remains of my
+chariot will be found in the wood, with all the ornaments I had put on
+to please you: at sight of these you will not doubt any more that I am
+dead. But then, how do I know that you will not bestow on some one else
+the heartfelt love which once belonged to me? At all events I shall be
+spared the sorrow of that knowledge, since I am never to return to the
+world.'
+
+These thoughts would have filled her mind for a long time, but she was
+interrupted by the dismal croaking of a raven overhead. Lifting her
+eyes, she saw in the dim light a large raven on the point of swallowing
+a frog which it held in its beak. 'Though I have no hope of help for
+myself,' she said, 'I will not let this unfortunate frog die, if I can
+save it; though our lots are so different, its sufferings are quite as
+great as mine.' She picked up the first stick which came to hand, and
+made the raven let go its prey. The frog fell to the ground and lay for
+a time half stunned; but as soon as it could think, in its froggish way,
+it began to speak. 'Beautiful queen,' it said, 'you are the first
+friendly soul that I have seen since my curiosity brought me here.'
+
+[Illustration: _The Friendly Frog_]
+
+'By what magic are you endowed with speech, little Frog?' replied the
+queen; 'and what people are they whom you see here? I have seen none at
+all as yet.'
+
+'All the monsters with which the lake is teeming,' replied the little
+Frog, 'were once upon a time in the world. Some sat on thrones, some
+held high positions at Court; there are even some royal ladies here who
+were the cause of strife and bloodshed. It is these latter whom you see
+in the shape of leeches, and they are condemned to remain here for a
+certain time. But of those who come here none ever returns to the world
+better or wiser.'
+
+'I can quite understand,' said the queen, 'that wicked people are not
+improved by merely being thrown together. But how is it that you are
+here, my friendly little Frog?'
+
+'I came here out of curiosity,' she replied. 'I am part fairy, and
+though, in certain directions, my powers are limited, in others they are
+far-reaching. The Lion-Witch would kill me if she knew that I was in her
+domain.'
+
+'Whatever your fairy powers,' said the queen, 'I cannot understand how
+you could have fallen into the raven's clutches and come so near to
+being devoured.'
+
+'That is easily explained,' said the Frog. 'I have nought to fear when
+my little cap of roses is on my head, for that is the source of my
+power. Unluckily I had left it in the marsh when that ugly raven pounced
+upon me, and but for you, Madam, I should not now be here. Since you
+have saved my life, you have only to command me and I will do everything
+in my power to lessen the misfortunes of your lot.'
+
+'Alas, dear Frog,' said the queen, 'the wicked fairy who holds me
+captive desires that I should make her a fly-pasty. But there are no
+flies here, and if there were I could not see to catch them in the dim
+light. I am like, therefore, to get a beating which will kill me.'
+
+'Leave that to me,' said the Frog, 'I will quickly get you some.'
+
+Thereupon the Frog smeared sugar all over herself, and the same was done
+by more than six thousand of her froggy friends. They then made for a
+place where the fairy had a large store of flies, which she used to
+torment some of her luckless victims. No sooner did the flies smell the
+sugar than they flew to it, and found themselves sticking to the frogs.
+Away, then, went the latter at a gallop, to bring their friendly aid to
+the queen. Never was there such a catching of flies before, nor a better
+pasty than the one the queen made for the fairy. The surprise of the
+Witch was great when the queen handed it to her, for she was baffled to
+think how the flies could have been so cleverly caught.
+
+The queen suffered so much from want of protection against the poisonous
+air that she cut down some cypress branches and began to build herself a
+hut. The Frog kindly offered her services. She summoned round her all
+those who had helped in the fly hunt, and they assisted the queen to
+build as pretty a little place to live in as you could find anywhere in
+the world.
+
+But no sooner had she lain down to rest than the monsters of the lake,
+envious of her repose, gathered round the hut. They set up the most
+hideous noise that had ever been heard, and drove her so nearly mad that
+she got up and fled in fear and trembling from the house. This was just
+what the monsters were after, and a dragon, who had once upon a time
+ruled tyrannously over one of the greatest countries of the world,
+immediately took possession of it.
+
+The poor queen tried to protest against this ill-treatment. But no one
+would listen to her: the monsters laughed and jeered at her, and the
+Lion-Witch said that if she came and dinned lamentations into her ears
+again she would give her a sound thrashing.
+
+The queen was therefore obliged to hold her tongue. She sought out the
+Frog, who was the most sympathetic creature in the world, and they wept
+together; for the moment she put on her cap of roses the Frog became
+able to laugh or weep like anybody else.
+
+'I am so fond of you,' said the Frog to the queen, 'that I will build
+your house again, though every monster in the lake should be filled with
+envy.'
+
+Forthwith she cut some wood, and a little country mansion for the queen
+sprang up so quickly that she was able to sleep in it that very night.
+Nothing that could make for the queen's comfort was forgotten by the
+Frog, and there was even a bed of wild thyme.
+
+When the wicked fairy learnt that the queen was not sleeping on the
+ground, she sent for her and asked:
+
+'What power is it, human or divine, that protects you? This land drinks
+only a rain of burning sulphur, and has never produced so much as a
+sage-leaf: yet they tell me fragrant herbs spring up beneath your feet.'
+
+'I cannot explain it, madam,' said the queen, 'unless it is due to the
+child I am expecting. Perhaps for her a less unhappy fate than mine is
+in store.'
+
+'I have a craving just now,' said the Witch, 'for a posy of rare
+flowers. See if this happiness which you expect will enable you to get
+them. If you do not succeed, such a thrashing as I know well how to give
+is surely in store for you.'
+
+The queen began to weep, for threats like these distressed her, and she
+despaired as she thought of the impossibility of finding flowers. But
+when she returned to her little house, the friendly Frog met her.
+
+'How unhappy you look!' she said.
+
+'Alas, dear friend,' said the queen, 'who would not be so? The Witch has
+demanded a posy of the most beautiful flowers. Where am I to find them?
+You see what sort of flowers grow here! Yet my life is forfeit if I do
+not procure them.'
+
+'Dear queen,' said the Frog tenderly, 'we must do our best to extricate
+you from this dilemma. Hereabouts there lives a bat of my
+acquaintance--a kindly soul. She moves about more quickly than I do, so
+I will give her my cap of roses, and with the aid of this she will be
+able to find you flowers.'
+
+The queen curtseyed low, it being quite impossible to embrace the Frog,
+and the latter went off at once to speak to the bat. In a few hours the
+bat came back with some exquisite flowers tucked under her wings. Off
+went the queen with them to the Witch, who was more astonished than
+ever, being quite unable to understand in what marvellous way the queen
+had been assisted.
+
+The queen never ceased to plot some means of escape, and told the Frog
+of her longings. 'Madam,' said the latter, 'allow me first to take
+counsel with my little cap, and we will make plans according to what it
+advises.' Having placed her cap upon some straw, she burnt in front of
+it a few juniper twigs, some capers, and a couple of green peas. She
+then croaked five times. This completed the rites, and having donned her
+cap again, she began to speak like an oracle.
+
+'Fate, the all-powerful, decrees that you must not leave this place.
+You will have a little princess more beautiful than Venus herself. Let
+nothing fret you; time alone can heal.'
+
+The queen bowed her head and shed tears, but she determined to have
+faith in the friend she had found. 'Whatever happens,' she said, 'do not
+leave me here alone, and befriend me when my little one is born.' The
+Frog promised to remain with her, and did her best to comfort her.
+
+It is now time to return to the king. So long as the enemy kept him
+confined within his capital he could not regularly send messengers to
+the queen. But at length, after many sorties, he forced the enemy to
+raise the siege. This success gave him pleasure not so much on his own
+account, as for the sake of the queen, who could now be brought home in
+safety. He knew nothing of the disaster which had befallen her, for none
+of his retinue had dared to tell him of it. They had found in the forest
+the remains of the chariot, the runaway horses, and the apparel in which
+she had driven forth to find her husband, and being convinced that she
+was killed or devoured by wild beasts, their one idea was to make the
+king believe that she had died suddenly.
+
+It seemed as if the king could not survive this mournful news. He tore
+his hair, wept bitterly, and lamented his loss with all manner of
+sorrowful cries and sobs and sighs. For several days he would see
+nobody, and hid himself from view. Later, he returned to his capital and
+entered upon a long period of mourning, to the sincerity of which his
+heartfelt sorrow bore even plainer testimony than his sombre garb of
+woe. His royal neighbours all sent ambassadors with messages of
+condolence, and when the ceremonies proper to these occasions were at
+length over, he proclaimed a period of peace. He released his subjects
+from military service, and devoted himself to giving them every
+assistance in the development of commerce.
+
+Of all this the queen knew nothing. A little princess had been born to
+her in the meantime, and her beauty did not belie the Frog's prediction.
+They gave her the name of Moufette, but the queen had great difficulty
+in persuading the Witch to let her bring up the child, for her ferocity
+was such that she would have liked to eat it.
+
+At the age of six months Moufette was a marvel of beauty, and often, as
+she gazed upon her with mingled tenderness and pity, the queen would
+say:
+
+'Could your father but see you, my poor child, how delighted he would
+be, and how dear you would be to him! But perhaps even now he has begun
+to forget me: doubtless he believes that death has robbed him of us, and
+it may be that another now fills the place I had in his affections.'
+
+Many were the tears she shed over these sad thoughts, and the Frog,
+whose love for her was sincere, was moved one day by the sight of her
+grief to say to her:
+
+'If you like, Madam, I will go and seek your royal husband. It is a long
+journey, and I am but a tardy traveller, but sooner or later I have no
+doubt I shall get there.'
+
+[Illustration: "COULD YOUR FATHER BUT SEE YOU, MY POOR CHILD."]
+
+No suggestion could have been more warmly approved, the queen clasping
+her hands, and bidding little Moufette do the same, in token of the
+gratitude she felt towards the good Frog for offering to make the
+expedition. Nor would the king, she declared, be less grateful. 'Of what
+advantage, however,' she went on, 'will it be to him to learn that I
+am in this dire abode, since it will be impossible for him to rescue me
+from it?'
+
+'That we must leave to Providence, Madam,' said the Frog; 'we can but
+make those efforts of which we are capable.'
+
+They took farewell of each other, and the queen sent a message to the
+king. This was written with her blood on a piece of rag, for she had
+neither ink nor paper. The good Frog was bringing him news of herself,
+she wrote, and she implored him to give heed to all that she might tell
+him, and to believe everything she had to say.
+
+It took the Frog a year and four days to climb the ten thousand steps
+which led from the gloomy realm in which she had left the queen, up into
+the world. Another year was spent in preparing her equipage, for she was
+too proud to consent to appear at Court like a poor and humble frog from
+the marshes. A little sedan-chair was made for her, large enough to hold
+a couple of eggs comfortably, and this was covered outside with
+tortoise-shell and lined with lizard-skin. From the little green frogs
+that hop about the meadows she selected fifty to act as maids of honour,
+and each of these was mounted on a snail. They had dainty saddles, and
+rode in dashing style with the leg thrown over the saddle-bow. A
+numerous bodyguard of rats, dressed like pages, ran before the
+snails--in short, nothing so captivating had ever been seen before. To
+crown all, the cap of roses, which never faded but was always in full
+bloom, most admirably became her. Being something of a coquette, too,
+she could not refrain from a touch of rouge and a patch or two; indeed,
+some said she was painted like a great many other ladies of the land,
+but it has been proved by inquiry that this report had its origin with
+her enemies.
+
+The journey lasted seven years, and during all that time the poor queen
+endured unutterable pain and suffering. Had it not been for the solace
+of the beautiful Moufette she must have died a hundred times. Every word
+that the dear little creature uttered filled her with delight; indeed,
+with the exception of the Lion-Witch, there was nobody who was not
+charmed by her.
+
+There came at length a day, after the queen had lived for six years in
+this dismal region, when the Witch told her that she could go hunting
+with her, on condition that she yielded up everything which she killed.
+The queen's joy when she once more saw the sun may be imagined; though
+at first she thought she would be blinded, so unaccustomed to its light
+had she become. So quick and lively was Moufette, even at five or six
+years of age, that she never failed in her aim, and mother and daughter
+together were thus able to appease somewhat the fierce instincts of the
+Witch.
+
+Meanwhile the Frog was travelling over hills and valleys. Day or night,
+she never stopped, and at last she came nigh to the capital, where the
+king was now in residence. To her astonishment signs of festivity met
+her eye at every turn; on all sides there was merriment, song and
+dancing, and the nearer she came to the city the more festive seemed the
+mood of the people. All flocked with amazement to see her rustic
+retinue, and by the time she reached the city the crowd had become so
+large that it was with difficulty she made her way to the palace.
+
+[Illustration: '_The journey lasted seven years_']
+
+At the palace all was splendour, for the king, who had been deprived
+of his wife's society for nine years, had at last yielded to the
+petitions of his subjects, and was about to wed a princess who possessed
+many amiable qualities, though she lacked, admittedly, the beauty of his
+wife.
+
+The good Frog descended from her sedan-chair, and with her attendants in
+her train entered the royal presence. To request an audience was
+unnecessary, for the king and his intended bride and all the princes
+were much too curious to learn why she had come to think of interrupting
+her.
+
+'Sire,' said the Frog, 'I am in doubt whether the news I bring will
+cause you joy or sorrow. I can only conclude, from the marriage which
+you are proposing to celebrate, that you are no longer faithful to your
+queen.'
+
+Tears fell from the king's eyes. 'Her memory is as dear to me as ever,'
+he declared; 'but you must know, good Frog, that monarchs cannot always
+follow their own wishes. For nine years now my subjects have been urging
+me to take a wife, and indeed it is due to them that there should be an
+heir to the throne. Hence my choice of this young princess, whose charms
+are apparent.'
+
+'I warn you not to marry her,' rejoined the Frog; 'the queen is not
+dead, and I am the bearer of a letter from her, writ in her own blood.
+There has been born to you a little daughter, Moufette, who is more
+beautiful than the very heavens.'
+
+The king took the rag on which the short message from the queen was
+written. He kissed it and moistened it with his tears; and declared,
+holding it up for all to see, that he recognised the handwriting of his
+wife. Then he plied the Frog with endless questions, to all of which she
+replied with lively intelligence.
+
+The princess who was to have been queen, and the envoys who were
+attending the marriage ceremony, were somewhat out of countenance.
+'Sire,' said one of the most distinguished guests, turning to the king,
+'can you contemplate the breaking of your solemn pledge upon the word of
+a toad like that? This scum of the marshes has the audacity to come and
+lie to the entire Court, just for the gratification of being listened
+to!'
+
+'I would have you know, your Excellency,' replied the Frog, 'that I am
+no scum of the marshes. Since you force me to display my powers--hither,
+fairies all!'
+
+At these words the frogs, the rats, the snails, and the lizards all
+suddenly ranged themselves behind the Frog. But in place of their
+familiar natural forms, they appeared now as tall, majestic figures,
+handsome of mien, and with eyes that outshone the stars. Each wore a
+crown of jewels on his head, while over his shoulders hung a royal
+mantle of velvet, lined with ermine, the train of which was borne by
+dwarfs. Simultaneously the sound of trumpets, drums, and hautboys filled
+the air with martial melody, and all the fairies began to dance a
+ballet, with step so light that the least spring lifted them to the
+vaulted ceiling of the chamber.
+
+The astonishment of the king and his future bride was in no way
+diminished when the fairy dancers suddenly changed before their eyes
+into flowers--jasmine, jonquils, violets, roses, and carnations--which
+carried on the dance just as though they were possessed of legs and
+feet. It was as though a flower-bed had come to life, every movement of
+which gave pleasure alike to eye and nostril. A moment later the flowers
+vanished, and in their place were fountains of leaping water that fell
+in a cascade and formed a lake beneath the castle walls. On the surface
+of the lake were little boats, painted and gilt, so pretty and dainty
+that the princess challenged the ambassadors to a voyage. None hesitated
+to do so, for they thought it was all a gay pastime, and a merry prelude
+to the marriage festivities. But no sooner had they embarked than boats,
+fountains, and lake vanished, and the frogs were frogs once more.
+
+'Sire,' said the Frog, when the king asked what had become of the
+princess, 'your wife alone is your queen. Were my affection for her less
+than it is, I should not interfere; but she deserves so well, and your
+daughter Moufette is so charming, that you ought not to lose one moment
+in setting out to their rescue.'
+
+'I do assure you, Madam Frog,' replied the king, 'that if I could
+believe my wife to be alive, I would shrink from nothing in the world
+for sight of her again.'
+
+'Surely,' said the Frog, 'after the marvels I have shown you, there
+ought not to be doubt in your mind of the truth of what I say. Leave
+your realm in the hands of those whom you can trust, and set forth
+without delay. Take this ring--it will provide you with the means of
+seeing the queen, and of speaking with the Lion-Witch, notwithstanding
+that she is the most formidable creature in the world.'
+
+The king refused to let any one accompany him, and after bestowing
+handsome gifts upon the Frog, he set forth. 'Do not lose heart,' she
+said to him; 'you will encounter terrible difficulties, but I am
+convinced that your desires will meet with success.' He plucked up
+courage at these words, and started upon the quest of his dear wife,
+though he had only the ring to guide him.
+
+Now Moufette's beauty became more and more perfect as she grew older,
+and all the monsters of the lake of quicksilver were enamoured of her.
+Hideous and terrifying to behold, they came and lay at her feet.
+Although Moufette had seen them ever since she was born, her lovely eyes
+could never grow accustomed to them, and she would run away and hide in
+her mother's arms. 'Shall we remain here long?' she would ask; 'are we
+never to escape from misery?'
+
+The queen would answer hopefully, so as to keep up the spirits of the
+child, but in her heart hope had died. The absence of the Frog and the
+lack of any news from her, together with the long time that had passed
+since she had heard anything of the king, filled her with grief and
+despair.
+
+By now it had become a regular thing for them to go hunting with the
+Lion-Witch. The latter liked good things, and enjoyed the game which
+they killed for her. The head or the feet of the quarry was all the
+share they got, but there was compensation in being allowed to look
+again upon the daylight. The Witch would take the shape of a lioness,
+and the queen and her daughter would seat themselves on her back. In
+this fashion they ranged the forests a-hunting.
+
+One day, when the king was resting in a forest to which his ring had
+guided him, he saw them shoot by like an arrow from the bow. They did
+not perceive him, and when he tried to follow them he lost sight of them
+completely. The queen was still as beautiful as of old, despite all that
+she had suffered, and she seemed to her husband more attractive than
+ever, so that he longed to have her with him again. He felt certain that
+the young princess with her was his dear little Moufette, and he
+resolved to face death a thousand times rather than abandon his
+intention of rescuing her.
+
+With the assistance of his ring he penetrated to the gloomy region in
+which the queen had been for so many years. His astonishment was great
+to find himself descending to the centre of the earth, but with every
+new thing that met his eyes his amazement grew greater.
+
+The Lion-Witch, from whom nothing was hid, knew well the day and hour of
+his destined arrival. Much did she wish that the powers in league with
+her could have ordered things otherwise, but she resolved to pit her
+strength against his to the full.
+
+She built a palace of crystal which floated in the midst of the lake of
+quicksilver, rising and falling on its waves. Therein she imprisoned the
+queen and her daughter, and assembling the monsters, who were all
+admirers of Moufette, she gave them this warning:
+
+'You will lose this beautiful princess if you do not help me to keep her
+from a gallant who has come to bear her away.'
+
+The monsters vowed that they would do everything in their power, and
+forthwith they surrounded the palace of crystal. The less heavy
+stationed themselves upon the roofs and walls, others mounted guard at
+the doors, while the remainder filled the lake.
+
+Following the dictates of his faithful ring, the king went first to the
+Witch's cavern. She was waiting for him in the form of a lioness, and
+the moment he appeared she sprang upon him. But she was not prepared for
+his valiant swordsmanship, and as she put forth a paw to fell him to
+the ground, he cut it off at the elbow-joint. She yelped loudly and
+fell over, whereupon he went up to her and set his foot upon her throat,
+swearing that he would kill her. Notwithstanding her uncontrollable
+rage, and the fact that she had nothing to fear from wounds, she felt
+cowed by him.
+
+'What do you seek to do to me?' she asked; 'what do you want of me?'
+
+'I intend to punish you,' replied the king with dignity, 'for having
+carried away my wife. Deliver her up to me, or I will strangle you on
+the spot.'
+
+'Turn your eyes to the lake,' she answered, 'and see if it lies in my
+power to do so.'
+
+The king followed the direction she indicated, and saw the queen and her
+daughter in the palace of crystal, where it floated like a boat without
+oars or rudder on the lake of quicksilver. He was like to die of mingled
+joy and sorrow. He shouted to them at the top of his voice, and they
+heard him. But how was he to reach them?
+
+While he pondered a plan for the accomplishment of this, the Lion-Witch
+vanished. He ran round and round the lake, but no sooner did the palace
+draw near enough, at one point or another, to let him make a spring for
+it, than it suddenly receded with menacing speed. As often as his hopes
+were raised they were dashed to the ground.
+
+Fearing that he would presently tire, the queen cried to him that he
+must not lose courage, for the Lion-Witch sought to wear him down, but
+that true love could brave all obstacles. She stretched out imploring
+hands, and so did Moufette. At sight of this the king felt his courage
+renewed within him. Lifting his voice, he declared that he would rather
+live the rest of his life in this dismal region than go away without
+them.
+
+Patience he certainly needed, for no monarch in the world ever spent
+such a miserable time. There was only the ground, cumbered with briars
+and thorns, for bed, and for food he had only wild fruit more bitter
+than gall. In addition, he was under the perpetual necessity of
+defending himself from the monsters of the lake.
+
+Three years went by in this fashion, and the king could not pretend that
+he had gained the least advantage. He was almost in despair, and many a
+time was tempted to cast himself into the lake. He would have done so
+without hesitation had there been any hope that thereby the sufferings
+of the queen and the princess could be alleviated.
+
+One day as he was running, after his custom, from one side of the lake
+to the other, he was hailed by one of the ugliest of the dragons. 'Swear
+by your crown and sceptre, by your kingly robe, by your wife and child,'
+said the monster, 'to give me a certain tit-bit to eat for which I have
+a fancy, whenever I shall ask for it, and I will take you on my back:
+none of the monsters in this lake which are guarding the palace will
+prevent us from carrying away the queen and Princess Moufette.'
+
+'Best of dragons!' cried the king; 'I swear to you, and to all of dragon
+blood, that you shall have your fill of whatsoever you desire, and I
+will be for ever your devoted servant.'
+
+'Promise nothing which you do not mean to fulfil,' replied the dragon;
+'for otherwise life-long misfortunes may overwhelm you.'
+
+The king repeated his assurances, for he was dying of impatience to
+regain his beloved queen, and mounted the dragon just as though he were
+the most dashing of steeds. But now the other monsters rushed to bar the
+way. The combat was joined, and nought was audible save the hissing of
+the serpents, nought visible save the brimstone, fire and sulphur, which
+were belched forth in every direction.
+
+The king reached the palace at last, but there fresh efforts were
+required of him, for the entrances were defended by bats and owls and
+ravens. But even the boldest of these was torn to pieces by the dragon,
+who attacked them tooth and nail. The queen, too, who was a spectator of
+this savage fight, kicked down chunks of the wall, and armed with these
+helped her dear husband in the fray. Victory at length rested with them,
+and as they flew to one another's arms, the enchantment was brought to
+an end by a thunderbolt which plunged into the lake and dried it up.
+
+The friendly dragon vanished, along with all the other monsters, and the
+king found himself (by what means he had not the least idea) home again
+in his own city, and seated, with his queen and Moufette beside him, in
+a splendid dining-hall before a table laid with the richest fare. Never
+before was there such amazement and delight as theirs. The populace came
+running for a sight of the queen and princess, and to add to the wonder
+of it all, the latter was seen to be attired in apparel of such
+magnificence that the gaze was almost dazzled by her jewels.
+
+You can easily imagine what festivities now took place at the palace.
+There were masquerades, and tournaments with tilting at the ring which
+attracted the highest princes from all over the world; even more were
+these drawn by the bright eyes of Moufette.
+
+Amongst the handsomest and most accomplished in skill-at-arms, there was
+none anywhere who could outshine Prince Moufy. He won the applause and
+admiration of all, and Moufette, who had hitherto known only dragons and
+serpents, was not backward in according him her share of praise. Prince
+Moufy was deeply in love with her, and not a day passed but he showed
+her some fresh attention in the hope of gaining her favour. In due
+course he offered himself as a suitor, informing the king and queen that
+his realm was of a richness and extent that might well claim their
+favourable consideration.
+
+The king replied that Moufette should make her own choice of husband,
+for his only wish was to please her and make her happy. With this answer
+the prince was well satisfied, for he was already aware that the
+princess was not indifferent to him. He offered her his hand, and she
+declared that if he were not to be her husband, then no other man should
+be. Prince Moufy threw himself in rapture at her feet, and exacted,
+lover-like, a promise that she would keep her word with him.
+
+The prince and princess were betrothed, and Prince Moufy then returned
+to his own realm, in order to make preparations for the marriage.
+Moufette wept much at his going, for she was oppressed by an
+inexplicable presentiment of evil. The prince likewise was much
+downcast, and the queen, noticing this, gave him a portrait of her
+daughter with an injunction to curtail the splendour of his preparations
+rather than allow his return to be delayed. The prince was nothing loth
+to obey her behest, and promised to adopt a course which so well
+consulted his own happiness.
+
+The princess amused herself with music during his absence, for in a few
+months she had learned to play exceedingly well.
+
+One day, when she was in the queen's apartment, the king rushed in.
+Tears were streaming down his face as he took his daughter in his arms
+and cried aloud: 'Alas, my child! O wretched father! O miserable king!'
+Sobs choked his utterance, and he could say no more.
+
+Greatly alarmed, the queen and princess asked him what had happened, and
+at last he got out that there had just arrived an enormously tall giant,
+who professed to be an envoy of the dragon of the lake; and that in
+pursuance of the promise which the king had given in exchange for
+assistance in fighting the monsters, the dragon demanded that he should
+give up the princess, as he desired to make her into a pie for dinner.
+The king added that he had bound himself by solemn oaths to give the
+dragon what he asked--and in the days of which we are telling no one
+ever broke his word.
+
+The queen received this dire news with piercing shrieks, and clasped her
+child to her bosom. 'My life shall be forfeit,' she cried, 'ere my
+daughter is delivered up to this monster. Let him rather take our
+kingdom and all that we have. Unnatural father! Is it possible you can
+consent to such cruelty? What! My child to be made into a pie! The bare
+notion is intolerable! Send this grim envoy to me; it may be the
+spectacle of my anguish will soften his heart.'
+
+The king said nothing, but went in quest of the giant. He brought him to
+the queen, who flung herself at his feet with her daughter. She begged
+him to have mercy, and to persuade the dragon to take all that they
+possessed, but to spare Moufette's life. The giant replied, however,
+that the matter did not rest with him. The dragon, he said, was so
+obstinate, and so addicted to the pleasures of the table, that no power
+on earth would restrain him from eating what he had a mind to make a
+meal of. Furthermore, he counselled them, as a friend, to yield with a
+good grace lest greater ills should be in store. At these words the
+queen fainted, and the princess would have been in similar case, if she
+had not been obliged to go to the assistance of her mother.
+
+No sooner was the dreadful news known throughout the palace than it
+spread all over the city. On all sides there was weeping and wailing,
+for Moufette was greatly beloved.
+
+The king could not bring himself to give her up to the giant, and the
+latter, after waiting several days, grew restive and began to utter
+terrible threats. But the king and queen, taking counsel together, were
+agreed. 'What is there worse that could happen to us?' they said; 'if
+the dragon of the lake were to come and eat us all up, we could not
+suffer more, for if Moufette is put into a pie that will be the end of
+us.'
+
+Presently the giant informed them that he had received a message from
+the dragon, to the effect that if the princess would agree to marry one
+of his nephews, he would spare her life. This nephew was not only young
+and handsome, but a prince to boot; and there was no doubt of her being
+able to live very happily with him.
+
+This proposal somewhat assuaged their grief, but when the queen
+mentioned it to the princess, she found her more ready to face death
+than entertain this marriage. 'I cannot break faith just to save my
+life,' said Moufette; 'you promised me to Prince Moufy, and I will marry
+none else. Let me perish, for my death will enable you to live in
+peace.' The king in his turn tried, with many endearments, to persuade
+her, but she could not be moved. Finally, therefore, it was arranged
+that she should be conducted to a mountain-top, there to await the
+dragon.
+
+Everything was made ready for the great sacrificial rite, and nothing so
+mournful had ever been seen before. Black garments and pale, distraught
+faces were encountered at every turn. Four hundred maidens of the
+noblest birth, clad in long white robes and wearing crowns of cypress,
+accompanied the princess. The latter was borne in an open litter of
+black velvet, that all men might behold the wondrous miracle of her
+beauty. Her tresses, tied with crape, hung over her shoulders, and she
+wore a crown of jasmine and marigolds. The only thing that seemed to
+affect her was the grief of the king and queen, who walked behind her,
+overwhelmed with the burden of their sorrow. Beside the litter strode
+the giant, armed from top to toe, and looking hungrily at the princess,
+as though already he savoured his share of the dish she was to make. The
+air was filled with sighs and sobs, and the tears of the spectators made
+rivulets along the road.
+
+'O Frog, dear Frog,' cried the queen; 'you have indeed forsaken me! Why
+give me help in that dismal place and refuse it to me here? Had I but
+died then, I should not now be mourning the end of all my hopes, and I
+should have been spared the agony of waiting to see my darling Moufette
+devoured.'
+
+Slowly the procession made its way to the summit of the fatal mountain.
+On arrival there the cries and lamentations broke out with renewed
+force, and a more pitiful noise was never heard before. The giant then
+directed that all farewells must be said, and a general withdrawal made,
+and his order was obeyed. Folks in those days were docile and obedient,
+and never thought of combating ill-fortune.
+
+The king and queen, with all the Court, now climbed another hill-top,
+from which they could obtain a view of all that happened to the
+princess. They had not long to wait, for they quickly espied a dragon,
+half a league long, sailing through the sky. He flew laboriously, for
+his bulk was so great that even six large wings could hardly support it.
+His body was covered all over with immense blue scales and tongues of
+poison flame, his twisted tail had fifty coils and another half coil
+beyond that, while his claws were each as big as a windmill. His jaws
+were agape, and inside could be seen three rows of teeth as long as an
+elephant's tusks.
+
+Now while the dragon was slowly wending his way to the mountain-top, the
+good and faithful Frog, mounted on a hawk's back, was flying at full
+speed to Prince Moufy. She was wearing her cap of roses, and though he
+was locked in his privy chamber she needed no key to enter.
+
+'Hapless lover!' she cried; 'what are you doing here? This very moment,
+while you sit dreaming about her beauty, Moufette is in direst peril!
+See, here is a rose-leaf; I have but to blow upon it and it will become
+a mettlesome steed.'
+
+As she spoke there suddenly appeared a green horse. It had twelve hoofs
+and three heads, and from the latter it could spit forth fire,
+bomb-shells, and cannon-balls respectively. The Frog then gave the
+prince a sword, eight yards long and no heavier than a feather, and a
+garment fashioned out of a single diamond. This he slipped on like a
+coat, and though it was hard as rock it was so pliant that his movements
+were in no way impeded.
+
+'Now fly to the rescue of your love,' said the Frog; 'the green horse
+will carry you to her. Do not omit to let her know, when you have
+delivered her, of what my part has been.'
+
+'Great-hearted fairy!' cried the prince, 'this is no moment to return
+you thanks, but from henceforth I am your faithful servant.'
+
+Off went the horse with the three heads, galloping on its twelve hoofs
+three times as fast, and more, than the best of ordinary steeds; and in
+a very short time the prince had reached the mountain, where he found
+his dear princess all alone.
+
+As the dragon slowly drew near, the green horse began to throw out fire,
+bomb-shells, and cannon-balls, which greatly disconcerted the monster.
+Twenty balls lodged in his throat, his scaly armour was dinted, and the
+bomb-shells put out one of his eyes. This enraged him, and he tried to
+hurl himself upon the prince. But the latter's long sword was so finely
+tempered that he could do what he liked with it, and now he plunged it
+in up to the hilt, now cut with it as though it had been a whip. The
+prince would have suffered, however, from the dragon's claws had it not
+been for his diamond coat, which was impenetrable.
+
+Moufette had recognised her lover from afar, for the gleaming diamond
+which covered him was transparent; and she was like to die of terror at
+the risk he ran. The king and queen, however, felt hope revive within
+them. They had little thought to see arriving so opportunely a horse
+with three heads and twelve hoofs that breathed forth fire and flame,
+nor yet a prince, in diamond mail, and armed with so redoubtable a
+sword, who performed such prodigies of valour. The king put his hat on
+the end of his stick, the queen tied a handkerchief to hers, and with
+all the Court following suit, there was no lack of signals of
+encouragement to the prince. Not that such were necessary, for his own
+stout heart and the peril in which he saw Moufette were enough to keep
+his courage up.
+
+Heavens, how he fought! Barbs, talons, horns, wings, and scales fell
+from the dragon till the ground was covered with them, and the soil was
+dyed blue and green with the mingled blood of dragon and horse. Five
+times the prince was unhorsed, but each time he picked himself up and
+composedly mounted his steed again. Then would follow such cannonades,
+bombardments, and flame-throwing as had never been seen or heard of
+before.
+
+At length, its strength exhausted, the dragon fell, and the prince
+delivered a finishing stroke. None could believe their eyes when from
+the gaping wound so made there stepped forth a handsome and elegant
+prince, clad in a coat of blue and gold velvet, embroidered with pearls,
+and wearing on his head a little Grecian helmet with a crest of white
+feathers. With outstretched hands this new-comer ran to Prince Moufy and
+embraced him.
+
+'How can I ever repay you, my gallant deliverer?' he cried. 'Never was
+monarch confined in a more dreadful prison than the one from which you
+have freed me. It is sixteen years since the Lion-Witch condemned me to
+it, and I have languished there ever since. Moreover, such is her power
+that she would have obliged me, against my will, to devour that sweet
+princess. I beg you to let me pay my respects to her, and explain my
+hapless plight!'
+
+Astonished and delighted by the remarkable way in which his adventure
+had ended, Prince Moufy lavished courtesies upon the newly-discovered
+prince. Together they went to Moufette, who rendered thanks a thousand
+times to Providence for her unexpected happiness. Already the king and
+queen and all the Court had joined her, and everybody spoke at once, and
+nobody listened to anybody, while nearly as many tears were shed for joy
+as a little time ago had been shed for grief. And finally, to set the
+crown on their rejoicing, the good Frog was espied flying through the
+air on her hawk. The latter had little golden bells upon its feet, and
+when the faint tinkling of these caused every one to look up, there was
+the Frog, beautiful as the dawn, with her cap of roses shining like the
+sun.
+
+The queen ran to her and took her by one of her little paws. At that
+instant the wise Frog was transformed into a majestic royal lady of
+gracious mien. 'I come,' she cried, 'to crown the faithful Moufette, who
+preferred to face death rather than break her word to Prince Moufy.'
+With these words she placed two myrtle wreaths upon the lovers' heads;
+and at a signal of three taps from her wand the dragon's bones rose up
+and formed a triumphal arch to commemorate the auspicious occasion.
+
+Back to the city went all the company, singing wedding songs as gladly
+as they had previously with sorrow bewailed the sacrifice of the
+princess. On the morrow the marriage took place, and with what
+festivities it was solemnised may be left to the imagination.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS ROSETTE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who had two handsome boys,
+and so well looked after were the latter that they grew apace, like the
+daylight.
+
+The queen never had a child without summoning the fairies to be present
+at the birth, and she always begged them to tell what its future was to
+be. When in due course she had a beautiful little daughter--so pretty
+that one could not set eyes on her without loving her--all the fairies
+came to visit her, and were hospitably entertained. As they were making
+ready to go, the queen said to them:
+
+'Do not forget your friendly custom, but tell me what fortune awaits
+Rosette.' Such was the name which had been given to the little princess.
+
+The fairies replied that they had left their magic books at home, but
+would come and see her some other time.
+
+'Ah,' said the queen, 'that bodes ill. You are anxious not to distress
+me by an unhappy prophecy. But tell me all, I implore you, and hide
+nothing from me.'
+
+The fairies did their utmost to excuse themselves. But the queen became
+more and more eager to learn everything, and at last the chief of them
+made a declaration.
+
+'We fear, Madam,' she said, 'that Rosette will bring disaster on her
+brothers, and that in some fashion she will be the cause of their death.
+This much and no more can we foretell of the pretty child, and we are
+grieved that we should have no better news to give you.'
+
+Then the fairies went away, and the queen was left grieving.
+
+So deep was her grief that the king saw it in her face, and asked what
+ailed her. She had gone too near the fire, she told him, and had burnt
+all the flax that was on her distaff.
+
+'Is that all?' said the king, and going up to his storeroom he brought
+her more flax than she could have spun in a hundred years.
+
+But the queen continued sad, and again the king asked what ailed her.
+She declared that in walking by the river she had let her green satin
+slipper fall into the water.
+
+'Is that all?' said the king, and summoning all the shoemakers in the
+kingdom he brought her ten thousand green satin slippers.
+
+Still she grieved, and once more he asked what ailed her. She told him
+that in eating with rather too vigorous an appetite she had swallowed
+her wedding-ring, which had been on her finger. The king knew at once
+that she was not telling the truth, for he had put away this ring
+himself.
+
+'My dear wife,' he said, 'you lie; I put away your ring in my
+purse--here it is!'
+
+She was not a little confused at being caught telling a lie (for there
+is nothing in the world so ugly), and she saw that the king was
+displeased. She told him, therefore, what the fairies had prophesied of
+little Rosette, and implored him to say if he could think of any good
+remedy.
+
+The king was plunged in the deepest melancholy, so much so that he
+remarked on one occasion to the queen: 'I see no other means of saving
+our two sons but to bring about the death of our little child while she
+is still in long clothes.' But the queen exclaimed that she would rather
+suffer death herself. She would never consent, she declared, to such a
+cruel course, and he must think of something else.
+
+The royal pair were at their wits' end when the queen was told that in a
+forest near the city there lived an aged hermit. His habitation was a
+hollow tree, and folks were wont to seek his advice upon all manner of
+things. 'I too must go there,' said the queen; 'the fairies have warned
+me of the evil, but they have forgotten to tell me of the remedy.'
+
+She rose betimes and mounted a dainty little white mule that was shod
+with gold, and took with her two of her ladies, each riding a bonny
+horse. When they had entered the wood they dismounted, as a sign of
+deference, and presented themselves at the tree where the hermit lived.
+The latter had an aversion from the sight of women, but on recognising
+the queen he addressed her.
+
+'You are welcome,' he said; 'what do you want of me?'
+
+She told him what the fairies had said of Rosette, and begged for
+advice. His reply was that the princess must be placed in a tower and
+never be allowed to leave it. The queen tendered her thanks, and having
+bestowed liberal alms upon him, returned to tell everything to the king.
+
+When the king had heard her news he gave orders at once for a great
+tower to be built. In this the princess was shut up, and to keep her
+amused the king and queen and her two brothers went every day to see
+her. The elder boy was known as the Big Prince, and the younger as the
+Little Prince. Both were passionately attached to their sister, for she
+had such beauty and charm as had never been seen before. For the
+lightest of looks from her many would have paid a hundred gold pieces
+and more.
+
+When the princess was fifteen years old the Big Prince spoke of her to
+his father. 'My sister is old enough now to marry, Sire,' he said;
+'shall we not soon be celebrating her wedding?' The Little Prince said
+the same thing to his mother. But their royal parents turned the
+conversation and made no answer on the subject of the marriage.
+
+One day the king and queen were stricken by a grievous malady, and died
+almost within twenty-four hours. Throughout the realm there was
+mourning; every one wore black, and on all sides the tolling of bells
+was heard. Rosette was grieved beyond consolation by the death of her
+dear mother.
+
+But when the royal dead had been interred, the noblemen of the realm set
+the Big Prince upon a throne of gold and diamonds, robed him in purple
+velvet embroidered with suns and moons, and placed a splendid crown upon
+his head. Then all the Court cried aloud three times: 'Long live the
+King!' and there followed universal festivities and rejoicings.
+
+'Now that we are in power,' said the king and his brother as soon as
+they could converse in private, 'we must release our sister from the
+tower in which she has languished so long.' They had only to cross the
+garden to reach the tower, which was built in a corner. It had been
+reared as high as possible, for it had been the intention of the late
+king and queen that their daughter should remain in it for life.
+
+Rosette was busy with embroidery when her brothers entered, but on
+catching sight of them she rose and left the frame at which she was
+working. Taking the king's hand, she said: 'Good-morrow, Sire; you are
+king to-day, and I am your humble servant. I implore you to release me
+from the tower in which I have been languishing so long.' And with these
+words she burst into tears.
+
+The king embraced her and told her not to weep, for he had come to take
+her from the tower and establish her in a beautiful castle. The prince,
+who had brought a pocketful of sweets to give to Rosette, added his
+word. 'Come,' he said, 'let us leave this hateful tower, and do not be
+unhappy any longer. Very soon the king will find a husband for you.'
+
+When Rosette saw the beautiful garden, with all its flowers and fruit
+and its many fountains, she was overcome with amazement and could not
+speak a word. She had never before seen anything of the kind. She looked
+about her on all sides, and then ran hither and thither, picking the
+fruit from the trees and the flowers from the beds, while her little dog
+Frillikin (who was as green as a parrot, had only one ear, and could
+dance deliciously) capered in front of her, yapping his loudest, and
+amusing everybody present by his absurd gambols.
+
+[Illustration: _Princess Rosette_]
+
+Presently Frillikin dashed into a little copse, and the princess
+followed. Never was any one so struck with wonder as she, to behold
+there a great peacock with tail outspread. So beautiful, so exquisitely
+and perfectly beautiful did it seem to her that she could not take away
+her eyes. When the king and the prince joined her they asked what it
+was that had so taken her fancy. She pointed to the peacock and asked
+what it was, to which they replied that it was a bird that was sometimes
+served at table.
+
+'What?' she cried; 'a bird so beautiful as that to be killed and eaten?
+I tell you, I will marry no one but the King of the Peacocks, and when I
+am queen no one shall ever eat such a dish again!'
+
+No words can express the astonishment of the king. 'My dear sister,' he
+said, 'where do you suppose that we are to find the King of the
+Peacocks?'
+
+'Wherever you please, Sire,' was the answer; 'but I will marry none but
+him!'
+
+After having announced this decision she allowed her brothers to escort
+her to their castle. But so great was the fancy she had taken to the
+peacock that she insisted on its being brought and placed in her
+apartment.
+
+All the ladies of the Court, by whom Rosette had never yet been seen,
+now hastened to pay their dutiful respects. Gifts of every kind were
+proffered to her--sweetmeats and sugar, gay ribbons, and dresses of
+cloth-of-gold, dolls, slippers richly embroidered, with many pearls and
+diamonds. All did their best to show her attention, and she displayed
+such charming manners, kissing hands and curtseying so graciously when
+any gift was offered to her, that not a gentleman or lady of the Court
+but left her presence loud in her praise.
+
+While the princess was being thus entertained, the king and the prince
+were taking counsel as to how they could find the King of the Peacocks,
+supposing such a person did really exist. In pursuit of the plan which
+they formed a portrait was painted of the Princess Rosette, and so
+cunningly wrought was this picture that only speech seemed wanting to
+make it live. Then they said to their sister:
+
+'Since you will marry none but the King of the Peacocks, we are setting
+forth together in quest of him through the wide world. If we find him we
+shall be well rewarded. Wait for our return, and take care of our
+kingdom while we are away.'
+
+Rosette thanked them for the trouble they were taking, and promised to
+govern the kingdom well. She declared that while they were away her only
+pleasures would be to admire the beautiful peacock and make Frillikin
+dance. Their adieux were said with many tears.
+
+Behold, then, the royal pair upon their travels, asking of all whom they
+met: 'Do you know the King of the Peacocks?' The reply from all was 'No,
+we do not.' Then the travellers would pass on and go further, journeying
+in this way so far, far away that no one had ever been so far before.
+
+At last they reached the kingdom of the Cockchafers, and the latter in
+their myriads made so loud a buzzing that the king thought he would go
+deaf. He asked one who seemed more intelligent than the rest if he knew
+whereabouts the King of the Peacocks was to be found.
+
+'Sire,' said the cockchafer, 'his kingdom is thirty thousand leagues
+away; you have taken the longest road to get there.'
+
+'How do you know that?' asked the king.
+
+'Because we know you well,' replied the cockchafer; 'every year we spend
+two or three months in your garden!'
+
+The king and his brother embraced the cockchafer warmly, and struck up
+a great friendship. Arm in arm they all went off to dinner, over which
+the visitors expressed their astonishment at the remarkable features of
+this country, where the smallest leaf from a tree was worth a gold
+piece. Presently they set off for their destination, and as they now
+knew the road they were not long in reaching it. They observed that all
+the trees were full of peacocks; indeed the place held so many of them
+that their screaming as they talked could be heard two leagues away.
+
+'If the King of the Peacocks is himself a peacock,' said the king to his
+brother, 'how can our sister dream of marrying him? It would be folly to
+sanction it. A nice set of relatives she would present to us--a lot of
+little peacocks for nephews!' The prince was equally uneasy in his mind.
+'It was an unfortunate notion to come into her head,' he declared; 'I
+cannot imagine how she ever came to think that such a person as the King
+of the Peacocks existed.'
+
+When they reached the city they found it peopled with men and women, but
+the latter all wore garments fashioned out of peacocks' feathers; and
+from the profusion in which these objects were everywhere to be seen it
+was plain that they were regarded with an intense admiration. They
+encountered the King of the Peacocks, who was out for a drive in a
+splendid little chariot of gold, studded with diamonds, drawn by a dozen
+galloping peacocks.
+
+The King of the Peacocks, fair of complexion, with a crown of peacocks'
+feathers surmounting his long and curly yellow locks, was so extremely
+handsome that the king and prince were delighted with his appearance. He
+guessed from their clothes, so different from those of the natives,
+that they were strangers; but to make sure he caused his carriage to
+stop and summoned them to him.
+
+The king and the prince advanced to meet him, and bowed low. 'We have
+come from far away, Sire,' they said, 'in order to show you a portrait.'
+With these words they drew from the pack which they carried the
+magnificent portrait of Rosette.
+
+'I do not believe,' said the King of the Peacocks, when he had looked
+long and well at it, 'that the world holds so beautiful a maiden.'
+
+'She is a hundred times more beautiful than that,' said the king.
+
+'You are joking,' said the King of the Peacocks.
+
+'Sire,' said the prince, 'this is my brother, who is a monarch like
+yourself: men call him King. For myself, I am known as Prince. This
+portrait shows our sister, the Princess Rosette. We are here to ask if
+you are willing to marry her. She has good sense as well as good looks,
+and we will give her for dowry a bushel of golden crowns.'
+
+'Why, certainly,' said the King of the Peacocks, 'I will marry her with
+all my heart. I promise she shall want for nothing, and I will love her
+truly. But I would have you know that she must be as beautiful as her
+picture, and that if she falls short of it by the least little bit, I
+will put you to death.'
+
+'We accept the conditions,' said Rosette's two brothers.
+
+'You accept?' said the King of the Peacocks. 'Then you must bide in
+prison until the princess has arrived.'
+
+The royal brothers raised no objection to this, for they knew well that
+Rosette was more beautiful than her portrait. The King of the Peacocks
+saw to it that his captives were well looked after, and went often to
+visit them. The portrait of Rosette was placed in his palace, and he was
+so taken up with it that, night or day, he could scarcely sleep.
+
+From prison the king and the prince sent a letter to the princess
+telling her to pack at once all she might require and come as quickly as
+possible, for the King of the Peacocks awaited her. They did not dare to
+mention that they were in prison, lest she should be too uneasy.
+
+When the princess received this letter her transports of delight were
+enough to kill her. She announced to every one that the King of the
+Peacocks had been found, and desired to wed her. Bonfires were lit, guns
+fired, and sugar and sweetmeats eaten in abundance; while for three days
+every one who came to see the princess was treated to bread and butter
+with jam, and cakes and ale.
+
+Having dispensed hospitality in this liberal fashion, the princess gave
+all her beautiful dolls to her dearest friends, and entrusted her
+brother's realm to the wisest elders of the city. She bade them take
+care of everything, spend as little as possible, and save money until
+the king should return. At the same time she begged them to look after
+her peacock.
+
+Taking with her only her nurse and foster-sister, and her little green
+dog Frillikin, she embarked on a vessel and put out to sea. They had
+with them the bushel of golden crowns, and clothes enough to last for
+ten years, with a change of dress twice a day; and they did nothing but
+laugh and sing on the voyage.
+
+Presently the nurse said to the boatman:
+
+'Tell me, tell me, are we near the Land of Peacocks?'
+
+'Not yet, not yet,' replied the boatman.
+
+A little later she asked again:
+
+'Tell me, tell me, are we near it now?'
+
+'Presently, presently,' replied the boatman.
+
+Once more she asked:
+
+'Tell me, tell me, are we near it now?'
+
+[Illustration: _The wicked nurse_]
+
+'Very near, very near,' said the boatman.
+
+When he answered thus the nurse sat down beside him in the stern of the
+boat. 'If you like, you can be rich for ever,' she said to him.
+
+'I should like that well,' replied the boatman.
+
+'If you like,' she went on, 'you can gain good money.'
+
+'I ask nothing better,' said he.
+
+'Very well, then,' said the nurse; 'to-night, when the princess is
+asleep, you must help me to throw her into the sea. When she is drowned
+I will dress up my daughter in her fine clothes, and we will take her to
+the King of the Peacocks, who will be delighted to marry her. You shall
+have your fill of diamonds as reward.'
+
+The boatman was taken aback by this suggestion from the nurse. He
+declared it was a pity to drown so beautiful a princess, and that he had
+compassion for her. But the nurse fetched a bottle of wine, and plied
+him with drink until he no longer had wits enough left to refuse.
+
+When night fell the princess went to sleep, according to her usual
+practice, with little Frillikin comfortably curled up at the foot of the
+bed, stirring not a paw. When Rosette was fast asleep the wicked nurse,
+who had remained awake, went to find the boatman. She took him to the
+cabin where the princess lay, and with the help of the foster-sister
+they lifted her up--feather-bed, mattress, sheets, blankets, and
+all--without disturbing her, and threw her into the sea just as she was.
+So soundly did the princess slumber that she never woke up.
+
+Now luckily her bed was made of feathers from the phoenix, which are
+very rare and have this peculiar virtue that they never sink in water.
+Consequently the princess went floating along in her bed, just as though
+she were in a boat.
+
+Presently, however, the water began little by little to lap first
+against the sides of the feather-bed, then against the mattress, until
+Rosette began to feel uncomfortable. She turned over restlessly, and
+Frillikin woke up. He had a very keen nose, and when he scented the
+soles and the cod-fish so near at hand he began yapping. He barked so
+loudly that he woke up all the other fish, and they began to swim round
+and about. Some of the big fish bumped their heads against the bed, and
+there being nothing to steady the latter it spun round and round like a
+top.
+
+You may imagine how astonished the princess was! 'Is our vessel doing a
+dance upon the water?' she exclaimed; 'I do not remember ever to have
+been so uncomfortable as I am to-night.' And all the time Frillikin was
+barking as though he had taken leave of his senses.
+
+The wicked nurse and the boatman heard him from afar. 'Do you hear
+that?' they exclaimed; 'it is that funny little dog drinking our very
+good health with his mistress! Let us make haste and get ashore.' By
+this time, you must understand, they were lying off the capital of the
+King of the Peacocks.
+
+A hundred carriages had been sent to the water's edge by the king. These
+were drawn by animals of every kind--lions, bears, stags, wolves,
+horses, oxen, asses, eagles, and peacocks. The carriage in which
+Princess Rosette was to be borne was drawn by six blue monkeys which
+could leap and dance upon the tight-rope and perform endless amusing
+antics; these had trappings of crimson velvet, studded with gold plates.
+
+Sixty young girls awaited the coming of the princess. They had been
+selected by the king to be her maids of honour, and their attire, of
+every colour of the rainbow, shone with ornaments of which gold and
+silver were the least precious.
+
+The nurse had taken great pains over the toilette of her daughter. She
+had decked her out in Rosette's most beautiful gown, and placed her
+diamonds on her head. But nothing could disguise the fact that she was
+an ugly little fright. Her hair was black and greasy, she was cross-eyed
+and bow-legged, and in the middle of her back she had a big hump.
+Moreover she was ill-tempered and sulky, and was for ever grumbling.
+
+[Illustration: '_She was an ugly little fright_']
+
+When the people of Peacock Land saw her disembark they were so
+completely taken aback that none could say a word.
+
+'What's the matter with you all?' she demanded; 'have you all gone to
+sleep? Bring me something to eat at once, do you hear? I'll have the
+lot of you hanged, precious riff-raff that you are!'
+
+'What a horrible creature!' murmured the citizens amongst themselves,
+when they heard these threats; 'as ill-tempered as she is ugly! A nice
+bride for our king, or I am much mistaken! It was hardly worth the
+trouble to bring her all the way across the world.' The girl meantime
+continued to behave in most domineering fashion, giving slaps and blows
+to every one without the slightest provocation.
+
+The procession, being very large, was obliged to move slowly, and as the
+carriage bore her along she comported herself as though she were a
+queen. But all the peacocks, who had perched upon the trees to greet her
+as she passed, and had arranged to call out 'Long live the beautiful
+Queen Rosette!' cried out when they saw how horrible she was: 'Fie! fie!
+how ugly she is!' This enraged her, and she called out to her escort:
+'Kill those impudent peacocks: they are insulting me!' But the peacocks
+flew nimbly away, and laughed at her.
+
+The rascally boatman was witness of all that occurred, and whispered to
+the nurse: 'Things are not going well for us, my good woman: your
+daughter should have been prettier.'
+
+'Hold your tongue, stupid!' she replied; 'or you will get us into
+trouble.'
+
+Word was brought to the king that the princess was approaching. 'Well,'
+said he; 'did her brothers speak the truth? Is she more beautiful than
+her portrait?'
+
+'Sire,' said the courtiers, 'if she is only as beautiful, that should be
+enough.'
+
+'Very true!' exclaimed the king. 'I shall be content with that. Let us
+go and see her.'
+
+He could tell from the din which arose from the courtyard that the
+princess had arrived, but the only words he could hear plainly amidst
+the hubbub were cries of 'Fie! fie! how ugly she is!' He supposed people
+must be referring to some dwarf or pet creature which she had perhaps
+brought with her, for it never entered his head that it could be the
+princess herself who was meant.
+
+The portrait of Rosette, uncovered, was hoisted on the end of a long
+pole, and carried in front of the king, who walked in state with his
+barons and peacocks, and the ambassadors from neighbouring kingdoms in
+his train. Great was the impatience of the King of the Peacocks to
+behold his dear Rosette; but when at length he did set eyes on
+her--gracious heavens, it was a wonder the shock did not kill him on the
+spot! He flew into a most terrible rage, rending his clothes, and
+refusing to go near her. Indeed, she frightened him.
+
+'What!' he cried; 'have those two dastardly prisoners the impudence to
+mock me thus, and propose that I should wed such a loathsome creature as
+that? They shall die for it! Away with that hussy and her nurse, and the
+fellow who brought them here; cast them into the dungeon of my keep!'
+
+Now the king and his brother, who had heard in prison that their sister
+was expected, had attired themselves handsomely to receive her. But
+instead of the prison being opened and their liberty restored, as they
+had anticipated, there came the gaoler with a squad of soldiers, and
+made them descend into a black dungeon, swarming with vile creatures,
+where the water was up to their necks. Never were two people more
+astounded or more distressed. 'Alas!' they cried to each other; 'this is
+a doleful wedding feast for us! What has brought this unhappy fate upon
+us?' They did not know what in the world to think, except that it was
+desired to compass their death, and this reflection filled them with
+melancholy.
+
+Three days passed and they heard not a word of anything. At the end of
+the third day the King of the Peacocks came and hurled insults at them
+through a hole in the wall.
+
+'You called yourselves King and Prince to trap me,' he shouted to them,
+'and sought thus to make me promise to wed your sister. But you are
+nought but a couple of beggars, not worth the water you drink. You shall
+be sent for trial, and the judges will make short work of your case--the
+rope to hang you with is being plaited already!'
+
+'Not so fast, King of the Peacocks,' replied the captive monarch,
+angrily, 'or you will have cause to repent it! I am a king like
+yourself: I rule over a fair land, I have robes and crowns and treasure
+in plenty. I pledge my all to the truth of what I say. You must be
+joking to talk of hanging us--of what have we robbed you?'
+
+The King of the Peacocks hardly knew what to make of this bold and
+confident challenge. He was almost of a mind to spare their lives and
+let them take their sister away. But his Chancellor, an arrant
+flatterer, egged him on, whispering that if he did not avenge himself,
+he would be the laughing-stock of the whole world, and would be looked
+upon as a mere twopenny-halfpenny monarch. Thus influenced, he vowed he
+would not pardon them, and ordered their trial to take place.
+
+This did not take long, for it was only necessary to compare side by
+side the portrait of the true Princess Rosette with the actual person
+who had come in her place and claimed identity with her. The prisoners
+were forthwith condemned to have their heads cut off as a penalty for
+lying, in that they brought the king an ugly little peasant girl after
+promising a beautiful princess.
+
+The sentence was read with great ceremony at the prison, but the victims
+protested that they had spoken the truth, that their sister was indeed a
+princess, and that there was something at the back of all this which
+they did not understand. They asked for a respite of seven days, that
+they might have an opportunity of establishing their innocence; and
+though the King of the Peacock's wrath was such that he had great
+difficulty in granting this concession, he agreed to it at length.
+
+Something must now be told of what was happening to poor Princess
+Rosette while all these events were taking place at the Court.
+
+Great was her astonishment, and Frillikin's also, to find herself, when
+day came, in mid-ocean without boat or any means of assistance. She fell
+to weeping, and cried so long and bitterly that all the fishes were
+moved to compassion. She knew not what to do, nor what would become of
+her.
+
+'There is no doubt,' she said, 'that I have been thrown into the sea by
+order of the King of the Peacocks. He has regretted his promise to marry
+me, and to be rid of me without fuss he has had me drowned. A strange
+way for a man to behave! And I should have loved him so much, and we
+should have been so happy together!'
+
+These thoughts made her weep the more, for she could not dispel her
+fancy for him.
+
+[Illustration: '_She floated hither and thither_']
+
+For two days she floated hither and thither over the sea, soaked to the
+skin, nigh dead with cold, and so nearly benumbed that but for little
+Frillikin, who snuggled to her bosom, and kept a little warmth in her,
+she must have perished a hundred times. She was famished with hunger,
+but on seeing some oysters in their shells she took and ate as many as
+would appease her. Frillikin did the same, but only to keep himself
+alive, for he did not like them.
+
+When night fell Rosette was filled with terror. 'Bark, Frillikin,' she
+said to her dog; 'keep on barking, or the soles will come and eat us!'
+So Frillikin barked all night.
+
+[Illustration: '_A kindly old man_']
+
+When morning came the bed was not far off the shore. Hereabouts there
+lived, all alone, a kindly old man. His home was a little hut where no
+one ever came, and as he had no desire for worldly goods he was very
+poor. He was astonished when he heard the barking of Frillikin, for no
+dogs ever came that way; and supposing that some travellers must have
+missed their road, he went out with the good-natured intention of
+putting them right. Suddenly he saw the princess and Frillikin floating
+out at sea. The princess caught sight of him, and stretching out her
+arms to him, cried:
+
+'Save me, kind old man, or I shall perish; two whole days have I been
+floating thus.'
+
+He was filled with pity when he heard her speak thus dolefully, and went
+to his house to fetch a big crook. He waded out till the water was up to
+his neck, and after being nearly drowned two or three times he
+succeeded in grappling the bed and drawing it to the shore.
+
+Rosette and Frillikin were delighted to find themselves once more on
+land. Rosette thanked the good man warmly. She accepted the offer of his
+cloak, and having wrapped herself in it walked barefoot to his hut.
+There he lit a little fire of dry straw, and took from a chest his dead
+wife's best dress, with a pair of stockings and shoes, which the
+princess put on. Clad thus in peasant's attire, with Frillikin
+gambolling round her to amuse her, she looked as beautiful as ever.
+
+The old man saw plainly that Rosette was a great lady, for the coverlets
+of her bed were of gold and silver, and her mattress of satin. He begged
+her to tell him her story, promising not to repeat a word if she so
+desired. She related everything from beginning to end--not without
+tears, for she still believed that the King of the Peacocks had meant
+her to be drowned.
+
+'What are we to do, my child?' said the old man. 'A great lady like you
+is accustomed to live on dainties, and I have only black bread and
+radishes--very poor fare for you. But I will go, if you will let me, and
+tell the King of the Peacocks that you are here. There is not the least
+doubt he will marry you, once he has seen you.'
+
+'He is a bad man,' said Rosette; 'he wanted me to die. If only you can
+supply me with a small basket to fasten on my dog's neck, it will be
+exceedingly bad luck if he does not bring us back something to eat.'
+
+The old man handed a basket to the princess, and she hung it round
+Frillikin's neck with these words: 'Find the best stew-pot in the town,
+and bring me back whatever is inside it.' Off went Frillikin to the
+town, and as he could think of no better stew-pot than the king's, he
+made his way into the royal kitchen. Having found the stew-pot, he
+cleverly extricated its contents and returned to the house.
+
+'Now go back to the larder,' said Rosette, 'and bring the best that you
+can find there.'
+
+Away went Frillikin to the larder and took some white bread, some choice
+wine, and an assortment of fruit and sweets. In fact, he took as much as
+he could carry.
+
+When the King of the Peacocks should have dined there was nothing in the
+stew-pot and nothing in the larder. Everybody gazed blankly at everybody
+else, and the king flew into a terrible rage. 'Oh, very good,' said he;
+'it seems I am to have no dinner! Well, put the spits to the fire, and
+see to it that some good roast joints are ready for me this evening!'
+
+When evening came the princess said to Frillikin: 'Find the best kitchen
+in the town and bring me a nice roast joint.' Off went Frillikin to
+carry out this order from his mistress. Thinking there could be no
+better kitchen than the king's, he slipped in quietly when the cooks'
+backs were turned, and took off the spit a roast joint, which looked so
+good that the mere sight of it gave one an appetite. His basket was full
+when he brought it back to the princess, but she sent him off again to
+the larder, and from there he carried away all the king's sweetmeats and
+dessert.
+
+The king was exceedingly hungry, having had no dinner, and ordered
+supper betimes. But there was nothing to eat, and he went to bed in a
+frightful temper. Next day at dinner and supper it was just the same.
+For three days the king had nothing to eat or drink, for every time he
+sat down at table it was found that everything had been stolen.
+
+The Chancellor, being very much afraid that the king would die, went and
+hid in a corner of the kitchen, whence he could keep the stew-pot on the
+fire constantly in view. To his astonishment he saw a little green dog,
+with only one ear, creep in stealthily, take the lid off the pot, and
+transfer the meat to his basket. He followed it in order to find out
+where it went, and saw it leave the town. Still pursuing, he came to the
+house of the good old man. He went immediately to the king and told him
+that it was to a poor peasant's house that every morning and evening his
+dinner and supper vanished.
+
+The king was mightily astonished, and ordered investigations to be made.
+The Chancellor, to curry favour, volunteered to go himself, and took
+with him a posse of archers. They found the old man at dinner with the
+princess, and the pair of them eating the king's provisions. They seized
+and bound them with strong ropes, not forgetting to deal in like manner
+with Frillikin.
+
+'To-morrow,' said the king, when he was told that the prisoners had
+arrived, 'the seven days' grace expires which I granted to those
+miscreants who insulted me. They shall go to execution with the stealers
+of my dinner.'
+
+When the King of the Peacocks entered the court of justice the old man
+flung himself on his knees, and declared that he would narrate all that
+had happened. As he told his story the king eyed the beautiful princess,
+and was touched by her weeping. When presently the good man declared
+that her name was the Princess Rosette, and that she had been thrown
+into the sea, he bounded three times into the air, despite the weak
+state in which he was after going so long without food, and ran to
+embrace her. As he undid the cords which bound her he cried out that he
+loved her with all his heart.
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+A guard had been sent for the princes, who approached just then. They
+came sadly with bowed heads, for they believed the hour of their
+execution had come. The nurse and her daughter were brought in at the
+same moment. Recognition was instant on all sides. Rosette flung herself
+into her brothers' arms, while the nurse and her daughter, with the
+boatman, fell on their knees and prayed for clemency. So joyous was the
+occasion that the king and the princess pardoned them. The good old man
+was handsomely rewarded, and given quarters at the palace for the rest
+of his life.
+
+Finally, the King of the Peacocks made all amends in his power to the
+royal brothers, expressing his deep regret at having ill-treated them.
+The nurse delivered up to Rosette her beautiful dresses and the bushel
+of golden crowns, and the wedding festivities lasted for fifteen days.
+Every one was happy, not excepting Frillikin, who ate nothing but
+partridge wings for the rest of his life.
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+
+                        THE END
+
+
+     Edinburgh: Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE LTD.
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.
+
+Other than the corrections listed below, printer's inconsistencies in
+spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, and ligature usage have been
+retained.
+
+The following misprints have been corrected:
+
+  changed "book-case" into bookcase page 127
+  added ' before I am sure,' page 120
+  added ' after there are no flies here, page 145
+  added ' after possibly carry out. page 145
+
+Illustrations have been moved from the middle of a paragraph to the
+closest paragraph break.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old-Time Stories, by Charles Perrault
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD-TIME STORIES ***
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+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
+"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
+<html lang="en">
+
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
+<title>The Project Gutenberg e-Book of Old-Time Stories, by Charles Perrault</title>
+
+
+<style type="text/css">
+<!--
+
+body {font-size: 1em; text-align: justify; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;}
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+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old-Time Stories, by Charles Perrault
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Old-Time Stories
+
+Author: Charles Perrault
+
+Illustrator: W. Heath Robinson
+
+Translator: A. E. Johnson
+
+Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31431]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD-TIME STORIES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Chris Curnow, Iris Gehring and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<a id="img057" name="img057"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img057.jpg" width="422" height="600" alt="coverpage" title=""></div>
+<p class="p1"> &nbsp;</p>
+
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="pagei" name="pagei"></a>[p. i]</span>
+<a id="img001" name="img001"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img001.jpg" width="500" height="321" alt="decoration" title=""></div>
+
+
+
+<h1>OLD-TIME STORIES</h1>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="pageii" name="pageii"></a>[p. ii]</span>
+<a id="img002" name="img002"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002.jpg" width="444" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">They reached the house where the light was burning.</span>"</p></div>
+
+
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="pageiii" name="pageiii"></a>[p. iii]</span><h1 class="center">OLD-TIME STORIES</h1>
+
+<p class="center"><i>told by</i></p>
+<h5 class="center"><b>MASTER<br>CHARLES<br>PERRAULT</b></h5>
+<p class="center"><i>translated from<br>the French by<br>A·E·Johnson<br>with illustrations<br>by</i></p>
+<h5 class="p1 center"><b>W·HEATH<br>ROBINSON</b></h5>
+
+<a id="img003" name="img003"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img003.jpg" width="350" height="347" alt="decoration" title=""></div>
+
+
+<p class="center ftsize105">NEW YORK<br>DODD, MEAD &amp; COMPANY</p>
+
+
+
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="pageiv" name="pageiv"></a>[p. iv]</span><p class="top3 left20"><i><small>First Published, 1921</small></i></p>
+
+<p class="top3 left20"><i><small>Printed in Great Britain</small></i></p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="pagev" name="pagev"></a>[p. v]</span> PREFATORY NOTE</h2>
+
+
+<p>Of the eleven tales which the present volume comprises, the first eight
+are from the master-hand of Charles Perrault. Charles Perrault
+(1628-1703) enjoyed much distinction in his day, and is familiar to
+students of French literature for the prominent part that he played in
+the famous <i>Quarrel of the Ancients and Moderns</i>, which so keenly
+occupied French men of letters in the latter part of the seventeenth
+century. But his fame to-day rests upon his authorship of the
+traditional <i>Tales of Mother Goose; or Stories of Olden Times</i>, and so
+long as there are children to listen spellbound to the adventures of
+Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, and that arch rogue Puss in Boots, his
+memory will endure.</p>
+
+<p>To the eight tales of Perrault three others have been added here.
+'Beauty and the Beast,' by Mme Leprince de Beaumont (1711-1781), has a
+celebrity which warrants its inclusion, however inferior it may seem, as
+an example of the story-teller's art, to the masterpieces of Perrault.
+'Princess Rosette' and 'The Friendly Frog' are from the prolific pen of
+Mme d'Aulnoy (1650-1705), a contemporary of Perrault, whom she could
+sometimes rival in invention, if never in dramatic power.</p>
+
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="pagevii" name="pagevii"></a>[p. vii]</span>
+<a id="img004" name="img004"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img004.jpg" width="300" height="255" alt="decoration" title=""></div>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+
+<ul class="left_5">
+<li> &nbsp;                                  <span class="ralign smaller"> PAGE</span></li>
+
+<li>THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page1">1</a></span></li>
+
+<li>PUSS IN BOOTS                      <span class="ralign">  <a href="#page21">21</a></span></li>
+
+<li>LITTLE TOM THUMB                    <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page34">34</a></span></li>
+
+<li>THE FAIRIES                         <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page55">55</a></span></li>
+
+<li>RICKY OF THE TUFT                   <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page61">61</a></span></li>
+
+<li>CINDERELLA                          <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page75">75</a></span></li>
+
+<li>LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD              <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page92">92</a></span></li>
+
+<li>BLUE BEARD                          <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page99">99</a></span></li>
+
+<li>BEAUTY AND THE BEAST               <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page113">113</a></span></li>
+
+<li>THE FRIENDLY FROG                  <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page138">138</a></span></li>
+
+<li>PRINCESS ROSETTE                   <span class="ralign"> <a href="#page174">174</a></span></li>
+</ul>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="pageix" name="pageix"></a>[p. ix]</span> LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2>
+
+
+<h3>COLOURED PLATES</h3>
+
+<ul class="left_5">
+<li>'They reached the house where the light was burning'<br><span class="add2em">(see page <a href="#page41">41</a>)</span>      <span class="ralign"> <i><a href="#img002">Frontispiece</a></i></span></li>
+
+                                 <li> &nbsp; <span class="ralign smaller"> FACING PAGE</span></li>
+
+<li>'The most beautiful sight he had ever seen'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img011">16</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'All that remained for the youngest was the cat'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img012">21</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'"You must die, madam," he said'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img035">99</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Every evening the Beast paid her a visit'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img044">130</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'"Could your father but see you, my poor child"'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img048">152</a></span></li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<h3>BLACK-AND-WHITE ILLUSTRATIONS</h3>
+
+<ul class="left_5">
+<li>     &nbsp;                                     <span class="ralign smaller"> PAGE</span></li>
+
+<li>'The king ... at once published an edict'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img006">3</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'A little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img007">7</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'The king's son chanced to go a-hunting'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img008">10</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'All asleep'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img009">12</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'They all fell asleep'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img010">13</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'As though he were dead'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img012">23</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'The cat went on ahead'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img014">26</a></span></li>
+
+<li>Puss in Boots      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img015">27</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Puss became a personage of great importance'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img016">31</a></span></li>
+
+<li><span class="pagenum"><a id="pagex" name="pagex"></a>[p. x]</span> 'A good dame opened the door'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img018">37</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'He could smell fresh flesh'          <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img019">43</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'He set off over the countryside'        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img020">47</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Laden with all the ogre's wealth'         <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img021">51</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Lifting up the jug so that she might drink the more easily'       <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img022">57</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'She could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece without
+breaking one of them'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img023">63</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Graceful and easy conversation'        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img024">65</a></span></li>
+
+<li>Ricky of the Tuft           <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img025">71</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'The haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been seen'        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img026">77</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Her godmother found her in tears'         <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img027">81</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Away she went'        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img028">83</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn'          <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img029">85</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'They tried it first on the princesses'         <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img030">89</a></span></li>
+
+<li>Little Red Riding Hood        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img031">93</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'She met old Father Wolf'         <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img032">95</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Making nosegays of the wild flowers'        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img033">96</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Come up on the bed with me'        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img034">97</a></span></li>
+
+<li>Blue Beard        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img036">101</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'She washed it well'          <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img037">104</a></span></li>
+
+<li>Sister Anne        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img038">105</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'Brandishing the cutlass aloft'        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img039">109</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'At first she found it very hard'          <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img040">115</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'"Look at our little sister"'               <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img041">117</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'It was snowing horribly'         <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img042">119</a></span></li>
+
+<li>The Beast        <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img043">122</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'"Your doom is to become statues"'         <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img045">135</a></span></li>
+
+<li><span class="pagenum"><a id="pagexi" name="pagexi"></a>[p. xi]</span> 'The approach to it was by ten thousand steps'      <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img046">143</a></span></li>
+
+<li>The Friendly Frog                                   <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img047">146</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'The journey lasted seven years'                    <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img049">155</a></span></li>
+
+<li>Princess Rosette                                    <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img050">179</a></span></li>
+
+<li>The wicked nurse                                    <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img051">186</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'She was an ugly little fright'                     <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img052">189</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'She floated hither and thither'                    <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img053">194</a></span></li>
+
+<li>'A kindly old man'                                  <span class="ralign"> <a href="#img054">195</a></span></li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="pagexii" name="pagexii"></a>[p. xii]</span>
+<a id="img005" name="img005"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img005.jpg" width="349" height="350" alt="decoration" title=""></div>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page1" name="page1"></a>[p. 1]</span> THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there lived a king and queen who were grieved, more
+grieved than words can tell, because they had no children. They tried
+the waters of every country, made vows and pilgrimages, and did
+everything that could be done, but without result. At last, however, the
+queen found that her wishes were fulfilled, and in due course she gave
+birth to a daughter.</p>
+
+<p>A grand christening was held, and all the fairies that could be found in
+the realm (they numbered seven in all) were invited to be godmothers to
+the little princess. This was done so that by means of the gifts which
+each in turn would bestow upon her (in accordance with the fairy custom
+of those days) the princess might be endowed with every imaginable
+perfection.</p>
+
+<p>When the christening ceremony was over, all the company returned to the
+king's palace, where a great banquet was held in honour of the fairies.
+Places were laid for them in magnificent style, and before each was
+placed a solid gold casket containing a spoon, fork, and knife of fine
+gold, set with diamonds and rubies. But just as all were sitting down to
+table an aged fairy was seen to enter, whom no one had thought to
+invite&mdash;the reason being that for more than fifty years she had never
+quitted the tower in which she lived, and people had supposed her to be
+dead or bewitched.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page2" name="page2"></a>[p. 2]</span> By the king's orders a place was laid for her, but it was
+impossible to give her a golden casket like the others, for only seven
+had been made for the seven fairies. The old creature believed that she
+was intentionally slighted, and muttered threats between her teeth.</p>
+
+<p>She was overheard by one of the young fairies, who was seated near by.
+The latter, guessing that some mischievous gift might be bestowed upon
+the little princess, hid behind the tapestry as soon as the company left
+the table. Her intention was to be the last to speak, and so to have the
+power of counteracting, as far as possible, any evil which the old fairy
+might do.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the fairies began to bestow their gifts upon the princess. The
+youngest ordained that she should be the most beautiful person in the
+world; the next, that she should have the temper of an angel; the third,
+that she should do everything with wonderful grace; the fourth, that she
+should dance to perfection; the fifth, that she should sing like a
+nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play every kind of music
+with the utmost skill.</p>
+
+<p>It was now the turn of the aged fairy. Shaking her head, in token of
+spite rather than of infirmity, she declared that the princess should
+prick her hand with a spindle, and die of it. A shudder ran through the
+company at this terrible gift. All eyes were filled with tears.</p>
+
+<p>But at this moment the young fairy stepped forth from behind the
+tapestry.</p>
+
+<p>'Take comfort, your Majesties,' she cried in a loud voice; 'your
+daughter shall not die. My power, it is true, is not enough to undo all
+that my aged kinswoman has decreed: the princess will indeed prick her
+hand with <span class="pagenum"><a id="page5" name="page5"></a>[p. 5]</span> a spindle. But instead of dying she shall merely
+fall into a profound slumber that will last a hundred years. At the end
+of that time a king's son shall come to awaken her.'</p>
+
+<a id="img006" name="img006"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img006.jpg" width="460" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>The king ... at once published an edict</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>The king, in an attempt to avert the unhappy doom pronounced by the old
+fairy, at once published an edict forbidding all persons, under pain of
+death, to use a spinning-wheel or keep a spindle in the house.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of fifteen or sixteen years the king and queen happened one
+day to be away, on pleasure bent. The princess was running about the
+castle, and going upstairs from room to room she came at length to a
+garret at the top of a tower, where an old serving-woman sat alone with
+her distaff, spinning. This good woman had never heard speak of the
+king's proclamation forbidding the use of spinning-wheels.</p>
+
+<p>'What are you doing, my good woman?' asked the princess.</p>
+
+<p>'I am spinning, my pretty child,' replied the dame, not knowing who she
+was.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, what fun!' rejoined the princess; 'how do you do it? Let me try and
+see if I can do it equally well.'</p>
+
+<p>Partly because she was too hasty, partly because she was a little
+heedless, but also because the fairy decree had ordained it, no sooner
+had she seized the spindle than she pricked her hand and fell down in a
+swoon.</p>
+
+<p>In great alarm the good dame cried out for help. People came running
+from every quarter to the princess. They threw water on her face, chafed
+her with their hands, and rubbed her temples with the royal essence of
+Hungary. But nothing would restore her.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page6" name="page6"></a>[p. 6]</span> Then the king, who had been brought upstairs by the commotion,
+remembered the fairy prophecy. Feeling certain that what had happened
+was inevitable, since the fairies had decreed it, he gave orders that
+the princess should be placed in the finest apartment in the palace,
+upon a bed embroidered in gold and silver.</p>
+
+<p>You would have thought her an angel, so fair was she to behold. The
+trance had not taken away the lovely colour of her complexion. Her
+cheeks were delicately flushed, her lips like coral. Her eyes, indeed,
+were closed, but her gentle breathing could be heard, and it was
+therefore plain that she was not dead. The king commanded that she
+should be left to sleep in peace until the hour of her awakening should
+come.</p>
+
+<p>When the accident happened to the princess, the good fairy who had saved
+her life by condemning her to sleep a hundred years was in the kingdom
+of Mataquin, twelve thousand leagues away. She was instantly warned of
+it, however, by a little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots,
+which are boots that enable one to cover seven leagues at a single step.
+The fairy set off at once, and within an hour her chariot of fire, drawn
+by dragons, was seen approaching.</p>
+
+<p>The king handed her down from her chariot, and she approved of all that
+he had done. But being gifted with great powers of foresight, she
+bethought herself that when the princess came to be awakened, she would
+be much distressed to find herself all alone in the old castle. And this
+is what she did.</p>
+
+<a id="img007" name="img007"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img007.jpg" width="452" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>A little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>She touched with her wand everybody (except the king and queen) who was
+in the castle&mdash;governesses, maids of honour, ladies-in-waiting,
+gentlemen, officers, stewards, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page9" name="page9"></a>[p. 9]</span> cooks, scullions, errand boys,
+guards, porters, pages, footmen. She touched likewise all the horses in
+the stables, with their grooms, the big mastiffs in the courtyard, and
+little Puff, the pet dog of the princess, who was lying on the bed
+beside his mistress. The moment she had touched them they all fell
+asleep, to awaken only at the same moment as their mistress. Thus they
+would always be ready with their service whenever she should require it.
+The very spits before the fire, loaded with partridges and pheasants,
+subsided into slumber, and the fire as well. All was done in a moment,
+for the fairies do not take long over their work.</p>
+
+<p>Then the king and queen kissed their dear child, without waking her, and
+left the castle. Proclamations were issued, forbidding any approach to
+it, but these warnings were not needed, for within a quarter of an hour
+there grew up all round the park so vast a quantity of trees big and
+small, with interlacing brambles and thorns, that neither man nor beast
+could penetrate them. The tops alone of the castle towers could be seen,
+and these only from a distance. Thus did the fairy's magic contrive that
+the princess, during all the time of her slumber, should have nought
+whatever to fear from prying eyes.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of a hundred years the throne had passed to another family
+from that of the sleeping princess. One day the king's son chanced to go
+a-hunting that way, and seeing in the distance some towers in the midst
+of a large and dense forest, he asked what they were. His attendants
+told him in reply the various stories which they had heard. Some said
+there was an old castle haunted by ghosts, others that all the witches
+of the neighbourhood held their revels <span class="pagenum"><a id="page10" name="page10"></a>[p. 10]</span> there. The favourite
+tale was that in the castle lived an ogre, who carried thither all the
+children whom he could catch. There he devoured them at his leisure, and
+since he was the only person who could force a passage through the wood
+nobody had been able to pursue him.</p>
+
+<a id="img008" name="img008"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img008.jpg" width="500" height="410" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>The king's son chanced to go a-hunting</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>While the prince was wondering what to believe, an old peasant took up
+the tale.</p>
+
+<p>'Your Highness,' said he, 'more than fifty years ago I heard my father
+say that in this castle lies a princess, the most beautiful that has
+ever been seen. It is her doom to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page11" name="page11"></a>[p. 11]</span> sleep there for a hundred
+years, and then to be awakened by a king's son, for whose coming she
+waits.'</p>
+
+<p>This story fired the young prince. He jumped immediately to the
+conclusion that it was for him to see so gay an adventure through, and
+impelled alike by the wish for love and glory, he resolved to set about
+it on the spot.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had he taken a step towards the wood when the tall trees, the
+brambles and the thorns, separated of themselves and made a path for
+him. He turned in the direction of the castle, and espied it at the end
+of a long avenue. This avenue he entered, and was surprised to notice
+that the trees closed up again as soon as he had passed, so that none of
+his retinue were able to follow him. A young and gallant prince is
+always brave, however; so he continued on his way, and presently reached
+a large fore-court.</p>
+
+<p>The sight that now met his gaze was enough to fill him with an icy fear.
+The silence of the place was dreadful, and death seemed all about him.
+The recumbent figures of men and animals had all the appearance of being
+lifeless, until he perceived by the pimply noses and ruddy faces of the
+porters that they merely slept. It was plain, too, from their glasses,
+in which were still some dregs of wine, that they had fallen asleep
+while drinking.</p>
+
+<p>The prince made his way into a great courtyard, paved with marble, and
+mounting the staircase entered the guardroom. Here the guards were lined
+up on either side in two ranks, their muskets on their shoulders,
+snoring their hardest. Through several apartments crowded with ladies
+and gentlemen in waiting, some seated, some standing, but all asleep, he
+pushed on, and so came at last to a chamber which was decked all over
+with gold. There he encountered <span class="pagenum"><a id="page12" name="page12"></a>[p. 12]</span> the most beautiful sight he had
+ever seen. Reclining upon a bed, the curtains of which on every side
+were drawn back, was a princess of seemingly some fifteen or sixteen
+summers, whose radiant beauty had an almost unearthly lustre.</p>
+
+<a id="img009" name="img009"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img009.jpg" width="332" height="400" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>All asleep</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Trembling in his admiration he drew near and went on his knees beside
+her. At the same moment, the hour of disenchantment having come, the
+princess awoke, and bestowed upon him a look more tender than a first
+glance might seem to warrant.</p>
+
+<p>'Is it you, dear prince?' she said; 'you have been long in coming!'</p>
+
+<p>Charmed by these words, and especially by the manner in which they were
+said, the prince scarcely knew how to express his delight and
+gratification. He declared that he loved her better than he loved
+himself. His words were faltering, but they pleased the more for that.
+The less there is of eloquence, the more there is of love.</p>
+
+<p>Her embarrassment was less than his, and that is not to be wondered at,
+since she had had time to think of what she would say to him. It seems
+(although the story says nothing about it) that the good fairy had
+beguiled her long slumber with pleasant dreams. To be brief, after four
+hours of talking they had not succeeded in uttering one half of the
+things they had to say to each other.</p>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page13" name="page13"></a>[p. 13]</span>
+<a id="img010" name="img010"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img010.jpg" width="457" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>They all fell asleep</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page15" name="page15"></a>[p. 15]</span> Now the whole palace had awakened with the princess. Every one
+went about his business, and since they were not all in love they
+presently began to feel mortally hungry. The lady-in-waiting, who was
+suffering like the rest, at length lost patience, and in a loud voice
+called out to the princess that supper was served.</p>
+
+<p>The princess was already fully dressed, and in most magnificent style.
+As he helped her to rise, the prince refrained from telling her that her
+clothes, with the straight collar which she wore, were like those to
+which his grandmother had been accustomed. And in truth, they in no way
+detracted from her beauty.</p>
+
+<p>They passed into an apartment hung with mirrors, and were there served
+with supper by the stewards of the household, while the fiddles and
+oboes played some old music&mdash;and played it remarkably well, considering
+they had not played at all for just upon a hundred years. A little
+later, when supper was over, the chaplain married them in the castle
+chapel, and in due course, attended by the courtiers in waiting, they
+retired to rest.</p>
+
+<p>They slept but little, however. The princess, indeed, had not much need
+of sleep, and as soon as morning came the prince took his leave of her.
+He returned to the city, and told his father, who was awaiting him with
+some anxiety, that he had lost himself while hunting in the forest, but
+had obtained some black bread and cheese from a charcoal-burner, in
+whose hovel he had passed the night. His royal father, being of an
+easy-going nature, believed the tale, but his mother was not so easily
+hoodwinked. She noticed that he now went hunting every day, and that he
+always had an excuse handy when he had slept two or three <span class="pagenum"><a id="page16" name="page16"></a>[p. 16]</span>
+nights from home. She felt certain, therefore, that he had some love
+affair.</p>
+
+<p>Two whole years passed since the marriage of the prince and princess,
+and during that time they had two children. The first, a daughter, was
+called 'Dawn,' while the second, a boy, was named 'Day,' because he
+seemed even more beautiful than his sister.</p>
+
+<p>Many a time the queen told her son that he ought to settle down in life.
+She tried in this way to make him confide in her, but he did not dare to
+trust her with his secret. Despite the affection which he bore her, he
+was afraid of his mother, for she came of a race of ogres, and the king
+had only married her for her wealth.</p>
+
+<p>It was whispered at the Court that she had ogrish instincts, and that
+when little children were near her she had the greatest difficulty in
+the world to keep herself from pouncing on them.</p>
+
+<p>No wonder the prince was reluctant to say a word.</p>
+
+<p>But at the end of two years the king died, and the prince found himself
+on the throne. He then made public announcement of his marriage, and
+went in state to fetch his royal consort from her castle. With her two
+children beside her she made a triumphal entry into the capital of her
+husband's realm.</p>
+
+<p>Some time afterwards the king declared war on his neighbour, the Emperor
+Cantalabutte. He appointed the queen-mother as regent in his absence,
+and entrusted his wife and children to her care.</p>
+
+<a id="img011" name="img011"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img011.jpg" width="449" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">The most beautiful sight he had ever seen.</span>"</p></div>
+
+<p>He expected to be away at the war for the whole of the summer, and as
+soon as he was gone the queen-mother sent her daughter-in-law and the
+two children to a country <span class="pagenum"><a id="page17" name="page17"></a>[p. 17]</span> mansion in the forest. This she did
+that she might be able the more easily to gratify her horrible longings.
+A few days later she went there herself, and in the evening summoned the
+chief steward.</p>
+
+<p>'For my dinner to-morrow,' she told him, 'I will eat little Dawn.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Madam!' exclaimed the steward.</p>
+
+<p>'That is my will,' said the queen; and she spoke in the tones of an ogre
+who longs for raw meat.</p>
+
+<p>'You will serve her with piquant sauce,' she added.</p>
+
+<p>The poor man, seeing plainly that it was useless to trifle with an
+ogress, took his big knife and went up to little Dawn's chamber. She was
+at that time four years old, and when she came running with a smile to
+greet him, flinging her arms round his neck and coaxing him to give her
+some sweets, he burst into tears, and let the knife fall from his hand.</p>
+
+<p>Presently he went down to the yard behind the house, and slaughtered a
+young lamb. For this he made so delicious a sauce that his mistress
+declared she had never eaten anything so good.</p>
+
+<p>At the same time the steward carried little Dawn to his wife, and bade
+the latter hide her in the quarters which they had below the yard.</p>
+
+<p>Eight days later the wicked queen summoned her steward again.</p>
+
+<p>'For my supper,' she announced, 'I will eat little Day.'</p>
+
+<p>The steward made no answer, being determined to trick her as he had done
+previously. He went in search of little Day, whom he found with a tiny
+foil in his hand, making brave passes&mdash;though he was but three years
+old&mdash;at a big <span class="pagenum"><a id="page18" name="page18"></a>[p. 18]</span> monkey. He carried him off to his wife, who
+stowed him away in hiding with little Dawn. To the ogress the steward
+served up, in place of Day, a young kid so tender that she found it
+surpassingly delicious.</p>
+
+<p>So far, so good. But there came an evening when this evil queen again
+addressed the steward.</p>
+
+<p>'I have a mind,' she said, 'to eat the queen with the same sauce as you
+served with her children.'</p>
+
+<p>This time the poor steward despaired of being able to practise another
+deception. The young queen was twenty years old, without counting the
+hundred years she had been asleep. Her skin, though white and beautiful,
+had become a little tough, and what animal could he possibly find that
+would correspond to her? He made up his mind that if he would save his
+own life he must kill the queen, and went upstairs to her apartment
+determined to do the deed once and for all. Goading himself into a rage
+he drew his knife and entered the young queen's chamber, but a
+reluctance to give her no moment of grace made him repeat respectfully
+the command which he had received from the queen-mother.</p>
+
+<p>'Do it! do it!' she cried, baring her neck to him; 'carry out the order
+you have been given! Then once more I shall see my children, my poor
+children that I loved so much!'</p>
+
+<p>Nothing had been said to her when the children were stolen away, and she
+believed them to be dead.</p>
+
+<p>The poor steward was overcome by compassion. 'No, no, Madam,' he
+declared; 'you shall not die, but you shall certainly see your children
+again. That will be in my quarters, where I have hidden them. I shall
+make the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page19" name="page19"></a>[p. 19]</span> queen eat a young hind in place of you, and thus trick
+her once more.'</p>
+
+<p>Without more ado he led her to his quarters, and leaving her there to
+embrace and weep over her children, proceeded to cook a hind with such
+art that the queen-mother ate it for her supper with as much appetite as
+if it had indeed been the young queen.</p>
+
+<p>The queen-mother felt well satisfied with her cruel deeds, and planned
+to tell the king, on his return, that savage wolves had devoured his
+consort and his children. It was her habit, however, to prowl often
+about the courts and alleys of the mansion, in the hope of scenting raw
+meat, and one evening she heard the little boy Day crying in a basement
+cellar. The child was weeping because his mother had threatened to whip
+him for some naughtiness, and she heard at the same time the voice of
+Dawn begging forgiveness for her brother.</p>
+
+<p>The ogress recognised the voices of the queen and her children, and was
+enraged to find she had been tricked. The next morning, in tones so
+affrighting that all trembled, she ordered a huge vat to be brought into
+the middle of the courtyard. This she filled with vipers and toads, with
+snakes and serpents of every kind, intending to cast into it the queen
+and her children, and the steward with his wife and serving-girl. By her
+command these were brought forward, with their hands tied behind their
+backs.</p>
+
+<p>There they were, and her minions were making ready to cast them into the
+vat, when into the courtyard rode the king! Nobody had expected him so
+soon, but he had travelled post-haste. Filled with amazement, he
+demanded to know what this horrible spectacle meant. None dared <span class="pagenum"><a id="page20" name="page20"></a>[p. 20]</span>
+tell him, and at that moment the ogress, enraged at what confronted her,
+threw herself head foremost into the vat, and was devoured on the
+instant by the hideous creatures she had placed in it.</p>
+
+<p>The king could not but be sorry, for after all she was his mother; but
+it was not long before he found ample consolation in his beautiful wife
+and children.</p>
+
+<a id="img012" name="img012"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img012.jpg" width="446" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">All that remained for the youngest was the cat.</span>"</p></div>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page21" name="page21"></a>[p. 21]</span> PUSS IN BOOTS</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">A certain</span> miller had three sons, and when he died the sole worldly goods
+which he bequeathed to them were his mill, his ass, and his cat. This
+little legacy was very quickly divided up, and you may be quite sure
+that neither notary nor attorney were called in to help, for they would
+speedily have grabbed it all for themselves.</p>
+
+<p>The eldest son took the mill, and the second son took the ass.
+Consequently all that remained for the youngest son was the cat, and he
+was not a little disappointed at receiving such a miserable portion.</p>
+
+<p>'My brothers,' said he, 'will be able to get a decent living by joining
+forces, but for my part, as soon as I have eaten my cat and made a muff
+out of his skin, I am bound to die of hunger.'</p>
+
+<p>These remarks were overheard by Puss, who pretended not to have been
+listening, and said very soberly and seriously:</p>
+
+<p>'There is not the least need for you to worry, Master. All you have to
+do is to give me a pouch, and get a pair of boots made for me so that I
+can walk in the woods. You will find then that your share is not so bad
+after all.'</p>
+
+<p>Now this cat had often shown himself capable of performing cunning
+tricks. When catching rats and mice, for example, he would hide himself
+amongst the meal and hang downwards by the feet as though he were dead.
+His master, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page22" name="page22"></a>[p. 22]</span> therefore, though he did not build too much on what
+the cat had said, felt some hope of being assisted in his miserable
+plight.</p>
+
+<p>On receiving the boots which he had asked for, Puss gaily pulled them
+on. Then he hung the pouch round his neck, and holding the cords which
+tied it in front of him with his paws, he sallied forth to a warren
+where rabbits abounded. Placing some bran and lettuce in the pouch, he
+stretched himself out and lay as if dead. His plan was to wait until
+some young rabbit, unlearned in worldly wisdom, should come and rummage
+in the pouch for the eatables which he had placed there.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had he laid himself down when things fell out as he wished. A
+stupid young rabbit went into the pouch, and Master Puss, pulling the
+cords tight, killed him on the instant.</p>
+
+<p>Well satisfied with his capture, Puss departed to the king's palace.
+There he demanded an audience, and was ushered upstairs. He entered the
+royal apartment, and bowed profoundly to the king.</p>
+
+<p>'I bring you, Sire,' said he, 'a rabbit from the warren of the marquis
+of Carabas (such was the title he invented for his master), which I am
+bidden to present to you on his behalf.'</p>
+
+<p>'Tell your master,' replied the king, 'that I thank him, and am pleased
+by his attention.'</p>
+
+<a id="img013" name="img013"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img013.jpg" width="453" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>As though he were dead</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Another time the cat hid himself in a wheatfield, keeping the mouth of
+his bag wide open. Two partridges ventured in, and by pulling the cords
+tight he captured both of them. Off he went and presented them to the
+king, just as he had done with the rabbit from the warren. His
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page25" name="page25"></a>[p. 25]</span> Majesty was not less gratified by the brace of partridges,
+and handed the cat a present for himself.</p>
+
+<p>For two or three months Puss went on in this way, every now and again
+taking to the king, as a present from his master, some game which he had
+caught. There came a day when he learned that the king intended to take
+his daughter, who was the most beautiful princess in the world, for an
+excursion along the river bank.</p>
+
+<p>'If you will do as I tell you,' said Puss to his master, 'your fortune
+is made. You have only to go and bathe in the river at the spot which I
+shall point out to you. Leave the rest to me.'</p>
+
+<p>The marquis of Carabas had no idea what plan was afoot, but did as the
+cat had directed.</p>
+
+<p>While he was bathing the king drew near, and Puss at once began to cry
+out at the top of his voice:</p>
+
+<p>'Help! help! the marquis of Carabas is drowning!'</p>
+
+<p>At these shouts the king put his head out of the carriage window. He
+recognised the cat who had so often brought him game, and bade his
+escort go speedily to the help of the marquis of Carabas.</p>
+
+<p>While they were pulling the poor marquis out of the river, Puss
+approached the carriage and explained to the king that while his master
+was bathing robbers had come and taken away his clothes, though he had
+cried 'Stop, thief!' at the top of his voice. As a matter of fact, the
+rascal had hidden them under a big stone. The king at once commanded the
+keepers of his wardrobe to go and select a suit of his finest clothes
+for the marquis of Carabas.</p>
+
+<p>The king received the marquis with many compliments, and as the fine
+clothes which the latter had just put on set <span class="pagenum"><a id="page26" name="page26"></a>[p. 26]</span> off his good looks
+(for he was handsome and comely in appearance), the king's daughter
+found him very much to her liking. Indeed, the marquis of Carabas had
+not bestowed more than two or three respectful but sentimental glances
+upon her when she fell madly in love with him. The king invited him to
+enter the coach and join the party.</p>
+
+<a id="img014" name="img014"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img014.jpg" width="500" height="443" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>The cat went on ahead</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Delighted to see his plan so successfully launched, the cat went on
+ahead, and presently came upon some peasants who were mowing a field.</p>
+
+<p>'Listen, my good fellows,' said he; 'if you do not tell the king that
+the field which you are mowing belongs to the marquis of Carabas, you
+will all be chopped up into little pieces like mince-meat.'</p>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page27" name="page27"></a>[p. 27]</span>
+<a id="img015" name="img015"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img015.jpg" width="454" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>Puss in Boots</i></p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page29" name="page29"></a>[p. 29]</span> In due course the king asked the mowers to whom the field on
+which they were at work belonged.</p>
+
+<p>'It is the property of the marquis of Carabas,' they all cried with one
+voice, for the threat from Puss had frightened them.</p>
+
+<p>'You have inherited a fine estate,' the king remarked to Carabas.</p>
+
+<p>'As you see for yourself, Sire,' replied the marquis; 'this is a meadow
+which never fails to yield an abundant crop each year.'</p>
+
+<p>Still travelling ahead, the cat came upon some harvesters.</p>
+
+<p>'Listen, my good fellows,' said he; 'if you do not declare that every
+one of these fields belongs to the marquis of Carabas, you will all be
+chopped up into little bits like mince-meat.'</p>
+
+<p>The king came by a moment later, and wished to know who was the owner of
+the fields in sight.</p>
+
+<p>'It is the marquis of Carabas,' cried the harvesters.</p>
+
+<p>At this the king was more pleased than ever with the marquis.</p>
+
+<p>Preceding the coach on its journey, the cat made the same threat to all
+whom he met, and the king grew astonished at the great wealth of the
+marquis of Carabas.</p>
+
+<p>Finally Master Puss reached a splendid castle, which belonged to an
+ogre. He was the richest ogre that had ever been known, for all the
+lands through which the king had passed were part of the castle domain.</p>
+
+<p>The cat had taken care to find out who this ogre was, and what powers he
+possessed. He now asked for an interview, declaring that he was
+unwilling to pass so close to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page30" name="page30"></a>[p. 30]</span> the castle without having the
+honour of paying his respects to the owner.</p>
+
+<p>The ogre received him as civilly as an ogre can, and bade him sit down.</p>
+
+<p>'I have been told,' said Puss, 'that you have the power to change
+yourself into any kind of animal&mdash;for example, that you can transform
+yourself into a lion or an elephant.'</p>
+
+<p>'That is perfectly true,' said the ogre, curtly; 'and just to prove it
+you shall see me turn into a lion.'</p>
+
+<p>Puss was so frightened on seeing a lion before him that he sprang on to
+the roof&mdash;not without difficulty and danger, for his boots were not
+meant for walking on the tiles.</p>
+
+<p>Perceiving presently that the ogre had abandoned his transformation,
+Puss descended, and owned to having been thoroughly frightened.</p>
+
+<p>'I have also been told,' he added, 'but I can scarcely believe it, that
+you have the further power to take the shape of the smallest
+animals&mdash;for example, that you can change yourself into a rat or a
+mouse. I confess that to me it seems quite impossible.'</p>
+
+<p>'Impossible?' cried the ogre; 'you shall see!' And in the same moment he
+changed himself into a mouse, which began to run about the floor. No
+sooner did Puss see it than he pounced on it and ate it.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the king came along, and noticing the ogre's beautiful mansion
+desired to visit it. The cat heard the rumble of the coach as it crossed
+the castle drawbridge, and running out to the courtyard cried to the
+king:</p>
+
+<p>'Welcome, your Majesty, to the castle of the marquis of Carabas!'</p>
+
+<a id="img016" name="img016"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img016.jpg" width="446" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Puss became a personage of great importance</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>'What's that?' cried the king. 'Is this castle also <span class="pagenum"><a id="page33" name="page33"></a>[p. 33]</span> yours,
+marquis? Nothing could be finer than this courtyard and the buildings
+which I see all about. With your permission we will go inside and look
+round.'</p>
+
+<p>The marquis gave his hand to the young princess, and followed the king
+as he led the way up the staircase. Entering a great hall they found
+there a magnificent collation. This had been prepared by the ogre for
+some friends who were to pay him a visit that very day. The latter had
+not dared to enter when they learned that the king was there.</p>
+
+<p>The king was now quite as charmed with the excellent qualities of the
+marquis of Carabas as his daughter. The latter was completely captivated
+by him. Noting the great wealth of which the marquis was evidently
+possessed, and having quaffed several cups of wine, he turned to his
+host, saying:</p>
+
+<p>'It rests with you, marquis, whether you will be my son-in-law.'</p>
+
+<p>The marquis, bowing very low, accepted the honour which the king
+bestowed upon him. The very same day he married the princess.</p>
+
+<p>Puss became a personage of great importance, and gave up hunting mice,
+except for amusement.</p>
+
+<a id="img017" name="img017"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img017.jpg" width="279" height="280" alt="decoration" title=""></div>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page34" name="page34"></a>[p. 34]</span> LITTLE TOM THUMB</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there lived a wood-cutter and his wife, who had seven
+children, all boys. The eldest was only ten years old, and the youngest
+was seven. People were astonished that the wood-cutter had had so many
+children in so short a time, but the reason was that his wife delighted
+in children, and never had less than two at a time.</p>
+
+<p>They were very poor, and their seven children were a great tax on them,
+for none of them was yet able to earn his own living. And they were
+troubled also because the youngest was very delicate and could not speak
+a word. They mistook for stupidity what was in reality a mark of good
+sense.</p>
+
+<p>This youngest boy was very little. At his birth he was scarcely bigger
+than a man's thumb, and he was called in consequence 'Little Tom Thumb.'
+The poor child was the scapegoat of the family, and got the blame for
+everything. All the same, he was the sharpest and shrewdest of the
+brothers, and if he spoke but little he listened much.</p>
+
+<p>There came a very bad year, when the famine was so great that these poor
+people resolved to get rid of their family. One evening, after the
+children had gone to bed, the wood-cutter was sitting in the
+chimney-corner with his wife. His heart was heavy with sorrow as he said
+to her:</p>
+
+<p>'It must be plain enough to you that we can no longer <span class="pagenum"><a id="page35" name="page35"></a>[p. 35]</span> feed our
+children. I cannot see them die of hunger before my eyes, and I have
+made up my mind to take them to-morrow to the forest and lose them
+there. It will be easy enough to manage, for while they are amusing
+themselves by collecting faggots we have only to disappear without their
+seeing us.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah!' cried the wood-cutter's wife, 'do you mean to say you are capable
+of letting your own children be lost?'</p>
+
+<p>In vain did her husband remind her of their terrible poverty; she could
+not agree. She was poor, but she was their mother. In the end, however,
+reflecting what a grief it would be to see them die of hunger, she
+consented to the plan, and went weeping to bed.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom Thumb had heard all that was said. Having discovered, when in
+bed, that serious talk was going on, he had got up softly, and had
+slipped under his father's stool in order to listen without being seen.
+He went back to bed, but did not sleep a wink for the rest of the night,
+thinking over what he had better do. In the morning he rose very early
+and went to the edge of a brook. There he filled his pockets with little
+white pebbles and came quickly home again.</p>
+
+<p>They all set out, and little Tom Thumb said not a word to his brothers
+of what he knew.</p>
+
+<p>They went into a forest which was so dense that when only ten paces
+apart they could not see each other. The wood-cutter set about his work,
+and the children began to collect twigs to make faggots. Presently the
+father and mother, seeing them busy at their task, edged gradually away,
+and then hurried off in haste along a little narrow footpath.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page36" name="page36"></a>[p. 36]</span> When the children found they were alone they began to cry and
+call out with all their might. Little Tom Thumb let them cry, being
+confident that they would get back home again. For on the way he had
+dropped the little white stones which he carried in his pocket all along
+the path.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't be afraid, brothers,' he said presently; 'our parents have left
+us here, but I will take you home again. Just follow me.'</p>
+
+<p>They fell in behind him, and he led them straight to their house by the
+same path which they had taken to the forest. At first they dared not go
+in, but placed themselves against the door, where they could hear
+everything their father and mother were saying.</p>
+
+<p>Now the wood-cutter and his wife had no sooner reached home than the
+lord of the manor sent them a sum of ten crowns which had been owing
+from him for a long time, and of which they had given up hope. This put
+new life into them, for the poor creatures were dying of hunger.</p>
+
+<p>The wood-cutter sent his wife off to the butcher at once, and as it was
+such a long time since they had had anything to eat, she bought three
+times as much meat as a supper for two required.</p>
+
+<p>When they found themselves once more at table, the wood-cutter's wife
+began to lament.</p>
+
+<p>'Alas! where are our poor children now?' she said; 'they could make a
+good meal off what we have over. Mind you, William, it was you who
+wished to lose them: I declared over and over again that we should
+repent it. What are they doing now in that forest? Merciful heavens,
+perhaps the wolves have already eaten them! A monster you must be to
+lose your children in this way!'</p>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page37" name="page37"></a>[p. 37]</span>
+<a id="img018" name="img018"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img018.jpg" width="459" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>A good dame opened the door</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page39" name="page39"></a>[p. 39]</span> At last the wood-cutter lost patience, for she repeated more
+than twenty times that he would repent it, and that she had told him so.
+He threatened to beat her if she did not hold her tongue.</p>
+
+<p>It was not that the wood-cutter was less grieved than his wife, but she
+browbeat him, and he was of the same opinion as many other people, who
+like a woman to have the knack of saying the right thing, but not the
+trick of being always in the right.</p>
+
+<p>'Alas!' cried the wood-cutter's wife, bursting into tears, 'where are
+now my children, my poor children?'</p>
+
+<p>She said it once so loud that the children at the door heard it plainly.
+Together they all called out:</p>
+
+<p>'Here we are! Here we are!'</p>
+
+<p>She rushed to open the door for them, and exclaimed, as she embraced
+them:</p>
+
+<p>'How glad I am to see you again, dear children! You must be very tired
+and very hungry. And you, Peterkin, how muddy you are&mdash;come and let me
+wash you!'</p>
+
+<p>This Peterkin was her eldest son. She loved him more than all the others
+because he was inclined to be red-headed, and she herself was rather
+red.</p>
+
+<p>They sat down at the table and ate with an appetite which it did their
+parents good to see. They all talked at once, as they recounted the
+fears they had felt in the forest.</p>
+
+<p>The good souls were delighted to have their children with them again,
+and the pleasure continued as long as the ten crowns lasted. But when
+the money was all spent they relapsed into their former sadness. They
+again resolved to lose the children, and to lead them much further
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page40" name="page40"></a>[p. 40]</span> away than they had done the first time, so as to do the job
+thoroughly. But though they were careful not to speak openly about it,
+their conversation did not escape little Tom Thumb, who made up his mind
+to get out of the situation as he had done on the former occasion.</p>
+
+<p>But though he got up early to go and collect his little stones, he found
+the door of the house doubly locked, and he could not carry out his
+plan.</p>
+
+<p>He could not think what to do until the wood-cutter's wife gave them
+each a piece of bread for breakfast. Then it occurred to him to use the
+bread in place of the stones, by throwing crumbs along the path which
+they took, and he tucked it tight in his pocket.</p>
+
+<p>Their parents led them into the thickest and darkest part of the forest,
+and as soon as they were there slipped away by a side-path and left
+them. This did not much trouble little Tom Thumb, for he believed he
+could easily find the way back by means of the bread which he had
+scattered wherever he walked. But to his dismay he could not discover a
+single crumb. The birds had come along and eaten it all.</p>
+
+<p>They were in sore trouble now, for with every step they strayed further,
+and became more and more entangled in the forest. Night came on and a
+terrific wind arose, which filled them with dreadful alarm. On every
+side they seemed to hear nothing but the howling of wolves which were
+coming to eat them up. They dared not speak or move.</p>
+
+<p>In addition it began to rain so heavily that they were soaked to the
+skin. At every step they tripped and fell on <span class="pagenum"><a id="page41" name="page41"></a>[p. 41]</span> the wet ground,
+getting up again covered with mud, not knowing what to do with their
+hands.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom Thumb climbed to the top of a tree, in an endeavour to see
+something. Looking all about him he espied, far away on the other side
+of the forest, a little light like that of a candle. He got down from
+the tree, and was terribly disappointed to find that when he was on the
+ground he could see nothing at all.</p>
+
+<p>After they had walked some distance in the direction of the light,
+however, he caught a glimpse of it again as they were nearing the edge
+of the forest. At last they reached the house where the light was
+burning, but not without much anxiety, for every time they had to go
+down into a hollow they lost sight of it.</p>
+
+<p>They knocked at the door, and a good dame opened to them. She asked them
+what they wanted.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom Thumb explained that they were poor children who had lost
+their way in the forest, and begged her, for pity's sake, to give them a
+night's lodging.</p>
+
+<p>Noticing what bonny children they all were, the woman began to cry.</p>
+
+<p>'Alas, my poor little dears!' she said; 'you do not know the place you
+have come to! Have you not heard that this is the house of an ogre who
+eats little children?'</p>
+
+<p>'Alas, madam!' answered little Tom Thumb, trembling like all the rest of
+his brothers, 'what shall we do? One thing is very certain: if you do
+not take us in, the wolves of the forest will devour us this very night,
+and that being so we should prefer to be eaten by your husband. Perhaps
+he may take pity on us, if you will plead for us.'</p>
+
+<p>The ogre's wife, thinking she might be able to hide <span class="pagenum"><a id="page42" name="page42"></a>[p. 42]</span> them from
+her husband till the next morning, allowed them to come in, and put them
+to warm near a huge fire, where a whole sheep was cooking on the spit
+for the ogre's supper.</p>
+
+<p>Just as they were beginning to get warm they heard two or three great
+bangs at the door. The ogre had returned. His wife hid them quickly
+under the bed and ran to open the door.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing the ogre did was to ask whether supper was ready and the
+wine opened. Then without ado he sat down to table. Blood was still
+dripping from the sheep, but it seemed all the better to him for that.
+He sniffed to right and left, declaring that he could smell fresh flesh.</p>
+
+<p>'Indeed!' said his wife. 'It must be the calf which I have just dressed
+that you smell.'</p>
+
+<p>'<i>I smell fresh flesh</i>, I tell you,' shouted the ogre, eyeing his wife
+askance; 'and there is something going on here which I do not
+understand.'</p>
+
+<p>With these words he got up from the table and went straight to the bed.</p>
+
+<p>'Aha!' said he; 'so this is the way you deceive me, wicked woman that
+you are! I have a very great mind to eat you too! It's lucky for you
+that you are old and tough! I am expecting three ogre friends of mine to
+pay me a visit in the next few days, and here is a tasty dish which will
+just come in nicely for them!'</p>
+
+<p>One after another he dragged the children out from under the bed.</p>
+
+<a id="img019" name="img019"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img019.jpg" width="456" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>He could smell fresh flesh</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>The poor things threw themselves on their knees, imploring mercy; but
+they had to deal with the most cruel of all ogres. Far from pitying
+them, he was already devouring <span class="pagenum"><a id="page45" name="page45"></a>[p. 45]</span> them with his eyes, and
+repeating to his wife that when cooked with a good sauce they would make
+most dainty morsels.</p>
+
+<p>Off he went to get a large knife, which he sharpened, as he drew near
+the poor children, on a long stone in his left hand.</p>
+
+<p>He had already seized one of them when his wife called out to him. 'What
+do you want to do it now for?' she said; 'will it not be time enough
+to-morrow?'</p>
+
+<p>'Hold your tongue,' replied the ogre; 'they will be all the more
+tender.'</p>
+
+<p>'But you have such a lot of meat,' rejoined his wife; 'look, there are a
+calf, two sheep, and half a pig.'</p>
+
+<p>'You are right,' said the ogre; 'give them a good supper to fatten them
+up, and take them to bed.'</p>
+
+<p>The good woman was overjoyed and brought them a splendid supper; but the
+poor little wretches were so cowed with fright that they could not eat.</p>
+
+<p>As for the ogre, he went back to his drinking, very pleased to have such
+good entertainment for his friends. He drank a dozen cups more than
+usual, and was obliged to go off to bed early, for the wine had gone
+somewhat to his head.</p>
+
+<p>Now the ogre had seven daughters who as yet were only children. These
+little ogresses all had the most lovely complexions, for, like their
+father, they ate fresh meat. But they had little round grey eyes,
+crooked noses, and very large mouths, with long and exceedingly sharp
+teeth, set far apart. They were not so very wicked at present, but they
+showed great promise, for already they were in the habit of killing
+little children to suck their blood.</p>
+
+<p>They had gone to bed early, and were all seven in a great bed, each with
+a crown of gold upon her head.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page46" name="page46"></a>[p. 46]</span> In the same room there was another bed, equally large. Into this
+the ogre's wife put the seven little boys, and then went to sleep
+herself beside her husband.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom Thumb was fearful lest the ogre should suddenly regret that
+he had not cut the throats of himself and his brothers the evening
+before. Having noticed that the ogre's daughters all had golden crowns
+upon their heads, he got up in the middle of the night and softly placed
+his own cap and those of his brothers on their heads. Before doing so,
+he carefully removed the crowns of gold, putting them on his own and his
+brothers' heads. In this way, if the ogre were to feel like slaughtering
+them that night he would mistake the girls for the boys, and <i>vice
+versa</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Things fell out just as he had anticipated. The ogre, waking up at
+midnight, regretted that he had postponed till the morrow what he could
+have done overnight. Jumping briskly out of bed, he seized his knife,
+crying: 'Now then, let's see how the little rascals are; we won't make
+the same mistake twice!'</p>
+
+<p>He groped his way up to his daughters' room, and approached the bed in
+which were the seven little boys. All were sleeping, with the exception
+of little Tom Thumb, who was numb with fear when he felt the ogre's
+hand, as it touched the head of each brother in turn, reach his own.</p>
+
+<p>'Upon my word,' said the ogre, as he felt the golden crowns; 'a nice job
+I was going to make of it! It is very evident that I drank a little too
+much last night!'</p>
+
+<p>Forthwith he went to the bed where his daughters were, and here he felt
+the little boys' caps.</p>
+
+<p>'Aha, here are the little scamps!' he cried; 'now for a smart bit of
+work!'</p>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page47" name="page47"></a>[p. 47]</span>
+<a id="img020" name="img020"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img020.jpg" width="452" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>He set off over the countryside</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page49" name="page49"></a>[p. 49]</span> With these words, and without a moment's hesitation, he cut the
+throats of his seven daughters, and well satisfied with his work went
+back to bed beside his wife.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner did little Tom Thumb hear him snoring than he woke up his
+brothers, bidding them dress quickly and follow him. They crept quietly
+down to the garden, and jumped from the wall. All through the night they
+ran in haste and terror, without the least idea of where they were
+going.</p>
+
+<p>When the ogre woke up he said to his wife:</p>
+
+<p>'Go upstairs and dress those little rascals who were here last night.'</p>
+
+<p>The ogre's wife was astonished at her husband's kindness, never doubting
+that he meant her to go and put on their clothes. She went upstairs, and
+was horrified to discover her seven daughters bathed in blood, with
+their throats cut.</p>
+
+<p>She fell at once into a swoon, which is the way of most women in similar
+circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>The ogre, thinking his wife was very long in carrying out his orders,
+went up to help her, and was no less astounded than his wife at the
+terrible spectacle which confronted him.</p>
+
+<p>'What's this I have done?' he exclaimed. 'I will be revenged on the
+wretches, and quickly, too!'</p>
+
+<p>He threw a jugful of water over his wife's face, and having brought her
+round ordered her to fetch his seven-league boots, so that he might
+overtake the children.</p>
+
+<p>He set off over the countryside, and strode far and wide until he came
+to the road along which the poor children were travelling. They were not
+more than a few yards <span class="pagenum"><a id="page50" name="page50"></a>[p. 50]</span> from their home when they saw the ogre
+striding from hill-top to hill-top, and stepping over rivers as though
+they were merely tiny streams.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom Thumb espied near at hand a cave in some rocks. In this he
+hid his brothers, and himself followed them in, while continuing to keep
+a watchful eye upon the movements of the ogre.</p>
+
+<p>Now the ogre was feeling very tired after so much fruitless marching
+(for seven-league boots are very fatiguing to their wearer), and felt
+like taking a little rest. As it happened, he went and sat down on the
+very rock beneath which the little boys were hiding. Overcome with
+weariness, he had not sat there long before he fell asleep and began to
+snore so terribly that the poor children were as frightened as when he
+had held his great knife to their throats.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom Thumb was not so alarmed. He told his brothers to flee at
+once to their home while the ogre was still sleeping soundly, and not to
+worry about him. They took his advice and ran quickly home.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom Thumb now approached the ogre and gently pulled off his
+boots, which he at once donned himself. The boots were very heavy and
+very large, but being enchanted boots they had the faculty of growing
+larger or smaller according to the leg they had to suit. Consequently
+they always fitted as though they had been made for the wearer.</p>
+
+<p>He went straight to the ogre's house, where he found the ogre's wife
+weeping over her murdered daughters.</p>
+
+<a id="img021" name="img021"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img021.jpg" width="449" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Laden with all the ogre's wealth</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>'Your husband,' said little Tom Thumb, 'is in great danger, for he has
+been captured by a gang of thieves, and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page53" name="page53"></a>[p. 53]</span> the latter have sworn
+to kill him if he does not hand over all his gold and silver. Just as
+they had the dagger at his throat, he caught sight of me and begged me
+to come to you and thus rescue him from his terrible plight. You are to
+give me everything of value which he possesses, without keeping back a
+thing, otherwise he will be slain without mercy. As the matter is urgent
+he wished me to wear his seven-league boots, to save time, and also to
+prove to you that I am no impostor.'</p>
+
+<p>The ogre's wife, in great alarm, gave him immediately all that she had,
+for although this was an ogre who devoured little children, he was by no
+means a bad husband.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom Thumb, laden with all the ogre's wealth, forthwith repaired
+to his father's house, where he was received with great joy.</p>
+
+<hr>
+
+<p>Many people do not agree about this last adventure, and pretend that
+little Tom Thumb never committed this theft from the ogre, and only took
+the seven-league boots, about which he had no compunction, since they
+were only used by the ogre for catching little children. These folks
+assert that they are in a position to know, having been guests at the
+wood-cutter's cottage. They further say that when little Tom Thumb had
+put on the ogre's boots, he went off to the Court, where he knew there
+was great anxiety concerning the result of a battle which was being
+fought by an army two hundred leagues away.</p>
+
+<p>They say that he went to the king and undertook, if desired, to bring
+news of the army before the day was out; and that the king promised him
+a large sum of money if he could carry out his project.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page54" name="page54"></a>[p. 54]</span> Little Tom Thumb brought news that very night, and this first
+errand having brought him into notice, he made as much money as he
+wished. For not only did the king pay him handsomely to carry orders to
+the army, but many ladies at the court gave him anything he asked to get
+them news of their lovers, and this was his greatest source of income.
+He was occasionally entrusted by wives with letters to their husbands,
+but they paid him so badly, and this branch of the business brought him
+in so little, that he did not even bother to reckon what he made from
+it.</p>
+
+<p>After acting as courier for some time, and amassing great wealth
+thereby, little Tom Thumb returned to his father's house, and was there
+greeted with the greatest joy imaginable. He made all his family
+comfortable, buying newly-created positions for his father and brothers.
+In this way he set them all up, not forgetting at the same time to look
+well after himself.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page55" name="page55"></a>[p. 55]</span> THE FAIRIES</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there lived a widow with two daughters. The elder was
+often mistaken for her mother, so like her was she both in nature and in
+looks; parent and child being so disagreeable and arrogant that no one
+could live with them.</p>
+
+<p>The younger girl, who took after her father in the gentleness and
+sweetness of her disposition, was also one of the prettiest girls
+imaginable. The mother doted on the elder daughter&mdash;naturally enough,
+since she resembled her so closely&mdash;and disliked the younger one as
+intensely. She made the latter live in the kitchen and work hard from
+morning till night.</p>
+
+<p>One of the poor child's many duties was to go twice a day and draw water
+from a spring a good half-mile away, bringing it back in a large
+pitcher. One day when she was at the spring an old woman came up and
+begged for a drink.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, certainly, good mother,' the pretty lass replied. Rinsing her
+pitcher, she drew some water from the cleanest part of the spring and
+handed it to the dame, lifting up the jug so that she might drink the
+more easily.</p>
+
+<p>Now this old woman was a fairy, who had taken the form of a poor village
+dame to see just how far the girl's good nature would go. 'You are so
+pretty,' she said, when she had finished drinking, 'and so polite, that
+I am determined <span class="pagenum"><a id="page56" name="page56"></a>[p. 56]</span> to bestow a gift upon you. This is the boon I
+grant you: with every word that you utter there shall fall from your
+mouth either a flower or a precious stone.'</p>
+
+<p>When the girl reached home she was scolded by her mother for being so
+long in coming back from the spring.</p>
+
+<p>'I am sorry to have been so long, mother,' said the poor child.</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke these words there fell from her mouth three roses, three
+pearls, and three diamonds.</p>
+
+<p>'What's this?' cried her mother; 'did I see pearls and diamonds dropping
+out of your mouth? What does this mean, dear daughter?' (This was the
+first time she had ever addressed her daughter affectionately.)</p>
+
+<p>The poor child told a simple tale of what had happened, and in speaking
+scattered diamonds right and left.</p>
+
+<p>'Really,' said her mother, 'I must send my own child there. Come here,
+Fanchon; look what comes out of your sister's mouth whenever she speaks!
+Wouldn't you like to be able to do the same? All you have to do is to go
+and draw some water at the spring, and when a poor woman asks you for a
+drink, give it her very nicely.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, indeed!' replied the ill-mannered girl; 'don't you wish you may see
+me going there!'</p>
+
+<p>'I tell you that you are to go,' said her mother, 'and to go this
+instant.'</p>
+
+<a id="img022" name="img022"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img022.jpg" width="456" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Lifting up the jug so that she might drink the more easily</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Very sulkily the girl went off, taking with her the best silver flagon
+in the house. No sooner had she reached the spring than she saw a lady,
+magnificently attired, who came towards her from the forest, and asked
+for a drink. This was the same fairy who had appeared to her sister,
+masquerading <span class="pagenum"><a id="page59" name="page59"></a>[p. 59]</span> now as a princess in order to see how far this
+girl's ill-nature would carry her.</p>
+
+<p>'Do you think I have come here just to get you a drink?' said the
+loutish damsel, arrogantly. 'I suppose you think I brought a silver
+flagon here specially for that purpose&mdash;it's so likely, isn't it? Drink
+from the spring, if you want to!'</p>
+
+<p>'You are not very polite,' said the fairy, displaying no sign of anger.
+'Well, in return for your lack of courtesy I decree that for every word
+you utter a snake or a toad shall drop out of your mouth.'</p>
+
+<p>The moment her mother caught sight of her coming back she cried out,
+'Well, daughter?'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, mother?' replied the rude girl. As she spoke a viper and a toad
+were spat out of her mouth.</p>
+
+<p>'Gracious heavens!' cried her mother; 'what do I see? Her sister is the
+cause of this, and I will make her pay for it!'</p>
+
+<p>Off she ran to thrash the poor child, but the latter fled away and hid
+in the forest near by. The king's son met her on his way home from
+hunting, and noticing how pretty she was inquired what she was doing all
+alone, and what she was weeping about.</p>
+
+<p>'Alas, sir,' she cried; 'my mother has driven me from home!'</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke the prince saw four or five pearls and as many diamonds
+fall from her mouth. He begged her to tell him how this came about, and
+she told him the whole story.</p>
+
+<p>The king's son fell in love with her, and reflecting that such a gift as
+had been bestowed upon her was worth more <span class="pagenum"><a id="page60" name="page60"></a>[p. 60]</span> than any dowry which
+another maiden might bring him, he took her to the palace of his royal
+father, and there married her.</p>
+
+<p>As for the sister, she made herself so hateful that even her mother
+drove her out of the house. Nowhere could the wretched girl find any one
+who would take her in, and at last she lay down in the forest and died.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page61" name="page61"></a>[p. 61]</span> RICKY OF THE TUFT</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there was a queen who bore a son so ugly and misshapen
+that for some time it was doubtful if he would have human form at all.
+But a fairy who was present at his birth promised that he should have
+plenty of brains, and added that by virtue of the gift which she had
+just bestowed upon him he would be able to impart to the person whom he
+should love best the same degree of intelligence which he possessed
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>This somewhat consoled the poor queen, who was greatly disappointed at
+having brought into the world such a hideous brat. And indeed, no sooner
+did the child begin to speak than his sayings proved to be full of
+shrewdness, while all that he did was somehow so clever that he charmed
+every one.</p>
+
+<p>I forgot to mention that when he was born he had a little tuft of hair
+upon his head. For this reason he was called Ricky of the Tuft, Ricky
+being his family name.</p>
+
+<p>Some seven or eight years later the queen of a neighbouring kingdom gave
+birth to twin daughters. The first one to come into the world was more
+beautiful than the dawn, and the queen was so overjoyed that it was
+feared her great excitement might do her some harm. The same fairy who
+had assisted at the birth of Ricky of the Tuft was present, and, in
+order to moderate the transports of the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page62" name="page62"></a>[p. 62]</span> queen she declared that
+this little princess would have no sense at all, and would be as stupid
+as she was beautiful.</p>
+
+<p>The queen was deeply mortified, and a moment or two later her chagrin
+became greater still, for the second daughter proved to be extremely
+ugly.</p>
+
+<p>'Do not be distressed, Madam,' said the fairy; 'your daughter shall be
+recompensed in another way. She shall have so much good sense that her
+lack of beauty will scarcely be noticed.'</p>
+
+<p>'May Heaven grant it!' said the queen; 'but is there no means by which
+the elder, who is so beautiful, can be endowed with some intelligence?'</p>
+
+<p>'In the matter of brains I can do nothing for her, Madam,' said the
+fairy, 'but as regards beauty I can do a great deal. As there is nothing
+I would not do to please you, I will bestow upon her the power of making
+beautiful any person who shall greatly please her.'</p>
+
+<p>As the two princesses grew up their perfections increased, and
+everywhere the beauty of the elder and the wit of the younger were the
+subject of common talk.</p>
+
+<p>It is equally true that their defects also increased as they became
+older. The younger grew uglier every minute, and the elder daily became
+more stupid. Either she answered nothing at all when spoken to, or
+replied with some idiotic remark. At the same time she was so awkward
+that she could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece without
+breaking one of them, nor drink a glass of water without spilling half
+of it over her clothes.</p>
+
+<a id="img023" name="img023"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img023.jpg" width="453" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>She could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece <br>without breaking one of them</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Now although the elder girl possessed the great advantage which beauty
+always confers upon youth, she was nevertheless outshone in almost all
+company by her younger <span class="pagenum"><a id="page65" name="page65"></a>[p. 65]</span> sister. At first every one gathered
+round the beauty to see and admire her, but very soon they were all
+attracted by the graceful and easy conversation of the clever one. In a
+very short time the elder girl would be left entirely alone, while
+everybody clustered round her sister.</p>
+
+<a id="img024" name="img024"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img024.jpg" width="500" height="499" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Graceful and easy conversation</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>The elder princess was not so stupid that she was not aware of this, and
+she would willingly have surrendered all her beauty for half her
+sister's cleverness. Sometimes she was ready to die of grief, for the
+queen, though a sensible woman, could not refrain from occasionally
+reproaching her with her stupidity.</p>
+
+<p>The princess had retired one day to a wood to bemoan her <span class="pagenum"><a id="page66" name="page66"></a>[p. 66]</span>
+misfortune, when she saw approaching her an ugly little man, of very
+disagreeable appearance, but clad in magnificent attire.</p>
+
+<p>This was the young prince Ricky of the Tuft. He had fallen in love with
+her portrait, which was everywhere to be seen, and had left his father's
+kingdom in order to have the pleasure of seeing and talking to her.</p>
+
+<p>Delighted to meet her thus alone, he approached with every mark of
+respect and politeness. But while he paid her the usual compliments he
+noticed that she was plunged in melancholy.</p>
+
+<p>'I cannot understand, madam,' he said, 'how any one with your beauty can
+be so sad as you appear. I can boast of having seen many fair ladies,
+and I declare that none of them could compare in beauty with you.'</p>
+
+<p>'It is very kind of you to say so, sir,' answered the princess; and
+stopped there, at a loss what to say further.</p>
+
+<p>'Beauty,' said Ricky, 'is of such great advantage that everything else
+can be disregarded; and I do not see that the possessor of it can have
+anything much to grieve about.'</p>
+
+<p>To this the princess replied:</p>
+
+<p>'I would rather be as plain as you are and have some sense, than be as
+beautiful as I am and at the same time stupid.'</p>
+
+<p>'Nothing more clearly displays good sense, madam, than a belief that one
+is not possessed of it. It follows, therefore, that the more one has,
+the more one fears it to be wanting.'</p>
+
+<p>'I am not sure about that,' said the princess; 'but I know only too well
+that I am very stupid, and this is the reason of the misery which is
+nearly killing me.'</p>
+
+<p>'If that is all that troubles you, madam, I can easily put an end to
+your suffering.'</p>
+
+<p>'How will you manage that?' said the princess.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page67" name="page67"></a>[p. 67]</span> 'I am able, madam,' said Ricky of the Tuft, 'to bestow as much
+good sense as it is possible to possess on the person whom I love the
+most. You are that person, and it therefore rests with you to decide
+whether you will acquire so much intelligence. The only condition is
+that you shall consent to marry me.'</p>
+
+<p>The princess was dumbfounded, and remained silent.</p>
+
+<p>'I can see,' pursued Ricky, 'that this suggestion perplexes you, and I
+am not surprised. But I will give you a whole year to make up your mind
+to it.'</p>
+
+<p>The princess had so little sense, and at the same time desired it so
+ardently, that she persuaded herself the end of this year would never
+come. So she accepted the offer which had been made to her. No sooner
+had she given her word to Ricky that she would marry him within one year
+from that very day, than she felt a complete change come over her. She
+found herself able to say all that she wished with the greatest ease,
+and to say it in an elegant, finished, and natural manner. She at once
+engaged Ricky in a brilliant and lengthy conversation, holding her own
+so well that Ricky feared he had given her a larger share of sense than
+he had retained for himself.</p>
+
+<p>On her return to the palace amazement reigned throughout the Court at
+such a sudden and extraordinary change. Whereas formerly they had been
+accustomed to hear her give vent to silly, pert remarks, they now heard
+her express herself sensibly and very wittily.</p>
+
+<p>The entire Court was overjoyed. The only person not too pleased was the
+younger sister, for now that she had no longer the advantage over the
+elder in wit, she seemed nothing but a little fright in comparison.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page68" name="page68"></a>[p. 68]</span> The king himself often took her advice, and several times held
+his councils in her apartment.</p>
+
+<p>The news of this change spread abroad, and the princes of the
+neighbouring kingdoms made many attempts to captivate her. Almost all
+asked her in marriage. But she found none with enough sense, and so she
+listened to all without promising herself to any.</p>
+
+<p>At last came one who was so powerful, so rich, so witty, and so
+handsome, that she could not help being somewhat attracted by him. Her
+father noticed this, and told her she could make her own choice of a
+husband: she had only to declare herself.</p>
+
+<p>Now the more sense one has, the more difficult it is to make up one's
+mind in an affair of this kind. After thanking her father, therefore,
+she asked for a little time to think it over.</p>
+
+<p>In order to ponder quietly what she had better do she went to walk in a
+wood&mdash;the very one, as it happened, where she encountered Ricky of the
+Tuft.</p>
+
+<p>While she walked, deep in thought, she heard beneath her feet a thudding
+sound, as though many people were running busily to and fro. Listening
+more attentively she heard voices. 'Bring me that boiler,' said one;
+then another&mdash;'Put some wood on that fire!'</p>
+
+<p>At that moment the ground opened, and she saw below what appeared to be
+a large kitchen full of cooks and scullions, and all the train of
+attendants which the preparation of a great banquet involves. A gang of
+some twenty or thirty spit-turners emerged and took up their positions
+round a very long table in a path in the wood. They all wore their
+cook's caps on one side, and with their basting implements <span class="pagenum"><a id="page69" name="page69"></a>[p. 69]</span> in
+their hands they kept time together as they worked, to the lilt of a
+melodious song.</p>
+
+<p>The princess was astonished by this spectacle, and asked for whom their
+work was being done.</p>
+
+<p>'For Prince Ricky of the Tuft, madam,' said the foreman of the gang;
+'his wedding is to-morrow.'</p>
+
+<p>At this the princess was more surprised than ever. In a flash she
+remembered that it was a year to the very day since she had promised to
+marry Prince Ricky of the Tuft, and was taken aback by the recollection.
+The reason she had forgotten was that when she made the promise she was
+still without sense, and with the acquisition of that intelligence which
+the prince had bestowed upon her, all memory of her former stupidities
+had been blotted out.</p>
+
+<p>She had not gone another thirty paces when Ricky of the Tuft appeared
+before her, gallant and resplendent, like a prince upon his wedding day.</p>
+
+<p>'As you see, madam,' he said, 'I keep my word to the minute. I do not
+doubt that you have come to keep yours, and by giving me your hand to
+make me the happiest of men.'</p>
+
+<p>'I will be frank with you,' replied the princess. 'I have not yet made
+up my mind on the point, and I am afraid I shall never be able to take
+the decision you desire.'</p>
+
+<p>'You astonish me, madam,' said Ricky of the Tuft.</p>
+
+<p>'I can well believe it,' said the princess, 'and undoubtedly, if I had
+to deal with a clown, or a man who lacked good sense, I should feel
+myself very awkwardly situated. "A princess must keep her word," he
+would say, "and you must marry me because you promised to!" <span class="pagenum"><a id="page70" name="page70"></a>[p. 70]</span> But
+I am speaking to a man of the world, of the greatest good sense, and I
+am sure that he will listen to reason. As you are aware, I could not
+make up my mind to marry you even when I was entirely without sense; how
+can you expect that to-day, possessing the intelligence you bestowed on
+me, which makes me still more difficult to please than formerly, I
+should take a decision which I could not take then? If you wished so
+much to marry me, you were very wrong to relieve me of my stupidity, and
+to let me see more clearly than I did.'</p>
+
+<p>'If a man who lacked good sense,' replied Ricky of the Tuft, 'would be
+justified, as you have just said, in reproaching you for breaking your
+word, why do you expect, madam, that I should act differently where the
+happiness of my whole life is at stake? Is it reasonable that people who
+have sense should be treated worse than those who have none? Would you
+maintain that for a moment&mdash;you, who so markedly have sense, and desired
+so ardently to have it? But, pardon me, let us get to the facts. With
+the exception of my ugliness, is there anything about me which
+displeases you? Are you dissatisfied with my breeding, my brains, my
+disposition, or my manners?'</p>
+
+<p>'In no way,' replied the princess; 'I like exceedingly all that you have
+displayed of the qualities you mention.'</p>
+
+<p>'In that case,' said Ricky of the Tuft, 'happiness will be mine, for it
+lies in your power to make me the most attractive of men.'</p>
+
+<p>'How can that be done?' asked the princess.</p>
+
+<a id="img025" name="img025"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img025.jpg" width="458" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>Ricky of the Tuft</i></p></div>
+
+<p>'It will happen of itself,' replied Ricky of the Tuft, 'if you love me
+well enough to wish that it be so. To remove your doubts, madam, let me
+tell you that the same fairy <span class="pagenum"><a id="page73" name="page73"></a>[p. 73]</span> who on the day of my birth
+bestowed upon me the power of endowing with intelligence the woman of my
+choice, gave to you also the power of endowing with beauty the man whom
+you should love, and on whom you should wish to confer this favour.'</p>
+
+<p>'If that is so,' said the princess, 'I wish with all my heart that you
+may become the handsomest and most attractive prince in the world, and I
+give you without reserve the boon which it is mine to bestow.'</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had the princess uttered these words than Ricky of the Tuft
+appeared before her eyes as the handsomest, most graceful and attractive
+man that she had ever set eyes on.</p>
+
+<p>Some people assert that this was not the work of fairy enchantment, but
+that love alone brought about the transformation. They say that the
+princess, as she mused upon her lover's constancy, upon his good sense,
+and his many admirable qualities of heart and head, grew blind to the
+deformity of his body and the ugliness of his face; that his hump back
+seemed no more than was natural in a man who could make the courtliest
+of bows, and that the dreadful limp which had formerly distressed her
+now betokened nothing more than a certain diffidence and charming
+deference of manner. They say further that she found his eyes shine all
+the brighter for their squint, and that this defect in them was to her
+but a sign of passionate love; while his great red nose she found nought
+but martial and heroic.</p>
+
+<p>However that may be, the princess promised to marry him on the spot,
+provided only that he could obtain the consent of her royal father.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page74" name="page74"></a>[p. 74]</span> The king knew Ricky of the Tuft to be a prince both wise and
+witty, and on learning of his daughter's regard for him, he accepted him
+with pleasure as a son-in-law.</p>
+
+<p>The wedding took place upon the morrow, just as Ricky of the Tuft had
+foreseen, and in accordance with the arrangements he had long ago put in
+train.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page75" name="page75"></a>[p. 75]</span> CINDERELLA</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there was a worthy man who married for his second wife
+the haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been seen. She had two
+daughters, who possessed their mother's temper and resembled her in
+everything. Her husband, on the other hand, had a young daughter, who
+was of an exceptionally sweet and gentle nature. She got this from her
+mother, who had been the nicest person in the world.</p>
+
+<p>The wedding was no sooner over than the stepmother began to display her
+bad temper. She could not endure the excellent qualities of this young
+girl, for they made her own daughters appear more hateful than ever. She
+thrust upon her all the meanest tasks about the house. It was she who
+had to clean the plates and the stairs, and sweep out the rooms of the
+mistress of the house and her daughters. She slept on a wretched
+mattress in a garret at the top of the house, while the sisters had
+rooms with parquet flooring, and beds of the most fashionable style,
+with mirrors in which they could see themselves from top to toe.</p>
+
+<p>The poor girl endured everything patiently, not daring to complain to
+her father. The latter would have scolded her, because he was entirely
+ruled by his wife. When she had finished her work she used to sit
+amongst the cinders in the corner of the chimney, and it was from this
+habit that she came to be commonly known as Cinder-slut. The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page76" name="page76"></a>[p. 76]</span>
+younger of the two sisters, who was not quite so spiteful as the elder,
+called her Cinderella. But her wretched clothes did not prevent
+Cinderella from being a hundred times more beautiful than her sisters,
+for all their resplendent garments.</p>
+
+<p>It happened that the king's son gave a ball, and he invited all persons
+of high degree. The two young ladies were invited amongst others, for
+they cut a considerable figure in the country. Not a little pleased were
+they, and the question of what clothes and what mode of dressing the
+hair would become them best took up all their time. And all this meant
+fresh trouble for Cinderella, for it was she who went over her sisters'
+linen and ironed their ruffles. They could talk of nothing else but the
+fashions in clothes.</p>
+
+<p>'For my part,' said the elder, 'I shall wear my dress of red velvet,
+with the Honiton lace.'</p>
+
+<p>'I have only my everyday petticoat,' said the younger, 'but to make up
+for it I shall wear my cloak with the golden flowers and my necklace of
+diamonds, which are not so bad.'</p>
+
+<p>They sent for a good hairdresser to arrange their double-frilled caps,
+and bought patches at the best shop.</p>
+
+<p>They summoned Cinderella and asked her advice, for she had good taste.
+Cinderella gave them the best possible suggestions, and even offered to
+dress their hair, to which they gladly agreed.</p>
+
+<p>While she was thus occupied they said:</p>
+
+<p>'Cinderella, would you not like to go to the ball?'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, but you fine young ladies are laughing at me. It would be no place
+for me.'</p>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page77" name="page77"></a>[p. 77]</span>
+<a id="img026" name="img026"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img026.jpg" width="454" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>The haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever <br>been seen</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page79" name="page79"></a>[p. 79]</span> 'That is very true, people would laugh to see a cinder-slut in
+the ballroom.'</p>
+
+<p>Any one else but Cinderella would have done their hair amiss, but she
+was good-natured, and she finished them off to perfection. They were so
+excited in their glee that for nearly two days they ate nothing. They
+broke more than a dozen laces through drawing their stays tight in order
+to make their waists more slender, and they were perpetually in front of
+a mirror.</p>
+
+<p>At last the happy day arrived. Away they went, Cinderella watching them
+as long as she could keep them in sight. When she could no longer see
+them she began to cry. Her godmother found her in tears, and asked what
+was troubling her.</p>
+
+<p>'I should like&mdash;I should like&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>She was crying so bitterly that she could not finish the sentence.</p>
+
+<p>Said her godmother, who was a fairy:</p>
+
+<p>'You would like to go to the ball, would you not?'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, yes,' said Cinderella, sighing.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, well,' said her godmother, 'promise to be a good girl and I will
+arrange for you to go.'</p>
+
+<p>She took Cinderella into her room and said:</p>
+
+<p>'Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.'</p>
+
+<p>Cinderella went at once and gathered the finest that she could find.
+This she brought to her godmother, wondering how a pumpkin could help in
+taking her to the ball.</p>
+
+<p>Her godmother scooped it out, and when only the rind was left, struck it
+with her wand. Instantly the pumpkin was changed into a beautiful coach,
+gilded all over.</p>
+
+<p>Then she went and looked in the mouse-trap, where <span class="pagenum"><a id="page80" name="page80"></a>[p. 80]</span> she found six
+mice all alive. She told Cinderella to lift the door of the mouse-trap a
+little, and as each mouse came out she gave it a tap with her wand,
+whereupon it was transformed into a fine horse. So that here was a fine
+team of six dappled mouse-grey horses.</p>
+
+<p>But she was puzzled to know how to provide a coachman.</p>
+
+<p>'I will go and see,' said Cinderella, 'if there is not a rat in the
+rat-trap. We could make a coachman of him.'</p>
+
+<p>'Quite right,' said her godmother, 'go and see.'</p>
+
+<p>Cinderella brought in the rat-trap, which contained three big rats. The
+fairy chose one specially on account of his elegant whiskers.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as she had touched him he turned into a fat coachman with the
+finest moustachios that ever were seen.</p>
+
+<p>'Now go into the garden and bring me the six lizards which you will find
+behind the water-butt.'</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had they been brought than the godmother turned them into six
+lackeys, who at once climbed up behind the coach in their braided
+liveries, and hung on there as if they had never done anything else all
+their lives.</p>
+
+<p>Then said the fairy godmother:</p>
+
+<p>'Well, there you have the means of going to the ball. Are you
+satisfied?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, yes, but am I to go like this in my ugly clothes?'</p>
+
+<p>Her godmother merely touched her with her wand, and on the instant her
+clothes were changed into garments of gold and silver cloth, bedecked
+with jewels. After that her godmother gave her a pair of glass slippers,
+the prettiest in the world.</p>
+
+<a id="img027" name="img027"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img027.jpg" width="455" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Her godmother found her in tears</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Thus altered, she entered the coach. Her godmother bade her not to stay
+beyond midnight whatever happened, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page83" name="page83"></a>[p. 83]</span> warning her that if she
+remained at the ball a moment longer, her coach would again become a
+pumpkin, her horses mice, and her lackeys lizards, while her old clothes
+would reappear upon her once more.</p>
+
+<p>She promised her godmother that she would not fail to leave the ball
+before midnight, and away she went, beside herself with delight.</p>
+
+<a id="img028" name="img028"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img028.jpg" width="400" height="162" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Away she went</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>The king's son, when he was told of the arrival of a great princess whom
+nobody knew, went forth to receive her. He handed her down from the
+coach, and led her into the hall where the company was assembled. At
+once there fell a great silence. The dancers stopped, the violins played
+no more, so rapt was the attention which everybody bestowed upon the
+superb beauty of the unknown guest. Everywhere could be heard in
+confused whispers:</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, how beautiful she is!'</p>
+
+<p>The king, old man as he was, could not take his eyes off her, and
+whispered to the queen that it was many a long day since he had seen any
+one so beautiful and charming.</p>
+
+<p>All the ladies were eager to scrutinise her clothes and the dressing of
+her hair, being determined to copy them on <span class="pagenum"><a id="page84" name="page84"></a>[p. 84]</span> the morrow, provided
+they could find materials so fine, and tailors so clever.</p>
+
+<p>The king's son placed her in the seat of honour, and at once begged the
+privilege of being her partner in a dance. Such was the grace with which
+she danced that the admiration of all was increased.</p>
+
+<p>A magnificent supper was served, but the young prince could eat nothing,
+so taken up was he with watching her. She went and sat beside her
+sisters, and bestowed numberless attentions upon them. She made them
+share with her the oranges and lemons which the king had given
+her&mdash;greatly to their astonishment, for they did not recognise her.</p>
+
+<p>While they were talking, Cinderella heard the clock strike a quarter to
+twelve. She at once made a profound curtsey to the company, and departed
+as quickly as she could.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as she was home again she sought out her godmother, and having
+thanked her, declared that she wished to go upon the morrow once more to
+the ball, because the king's son had invited her.</p>
+
+<p>While she was busy telling her godmother all that had happened at the
+ball, her two sisters knocked at the door. Cinderella let them in.</p>
+
+<p>'What a long time you have been in coming!' she declared, rubbing her
+eyes and stretching herself as if she had only just awakened. In real
+truth she had not for a moment wished to sleep since they had left.</p>
+
+<a id="img029" name="img029"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img029.jpg" width="453" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>'If you had been at the ball,' said one of the sisters, 'you would not
+be feeling weary. There came a most beautiful princess, the most
+beautiful that has ever been <span class="pagenum"><a id="page87" name="page87"></a>[p. 87]</span> seen, and she bestowed
+numberless attentions upon us, and gave us her oranges and lemons.'</p>
+
+<p>Cinderella was overjoyed. She asked them the name of the princess, but
+they replied that no one knew it, and that the king's son was so
+distressed that he would give anything in the world to know who she was.</p>
+
+<p>Cinderella smiled, and said she must have been beautiful indeed.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, how lucky you are. Could I not manage to see her? Oh, please,
+Javotte, lend me the yellow dress which you wear every day.'</p>
+
+<p>'Indeed!' said Javotte, 'that is a fine idea. Lend my dress to a grubby
+cinder-slut like you&mdash;you must think me mad!'</p>
+
+<p>Cinderella had expected this refusal. She was in no way upset, for she
+would have been very greatly embarrassed had her sister been willing to
+lend the dress.</p>
+
+<p>The next day the two sisters went to the ball, and so did Cinderella,
+even more splendidly attired than the first time.</p>
+
+<p>The king's son was always at her elbow, and paid her endless
+compliments.</p>
+
+<p>The young girl enjoyed herself so much that she forgot her godmother's
+bidding completely, and when the first stroke of midnight fell upon her
+ears, she thought it was no more than eleven o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn. The prince followed her, but
+could not catch her. She let fall one of her glass slippers, however,
+and this the prince picked up with tender care.</p>
+
+<p>When Cinderella reached home she was out of breath, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page88" name="page88"></a>[p. 88]</span> without
+coach, without lackeys, and in her shabby clothes. Nothing remained of
+all her splendid clothes save one of the little slippers, the fellow to
+the one which she had let fall.</p>
+
+<p>Inquiries were made of the palace doorkeepers as to whether they had
+seen a princess go out, but they declared they had seen no one leave
+except a young girl, very ill-clad, who looked more like a peasant than
+a young lady.</p>
+
+<p>When her two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderella asked them if
+they had again enjoyed themselves, and if the beautiful lady had been
+there. They told her that she was present, but had fled away when
+midnight sounded, and in such haste that she had let fall one of her
+little glass slippers, the prettiest thing in the world. They added that
+the king's son, who picked it up, had done nothing but gaze at it for
+the rest of the ball, from which it was plain that he was deeply in love
+with its beautiful owner.</p>
+
+<p>They spoke the truth. A few days later, the king's son caused a
+proclamation to be made by trumpeters, that he would take for wife the
+owner of the foot which the slipper would fit.</p>
+
+<p>They tried it first on the princesses, then on the duchesses and the
+whole of the Court, but in vain. Presently they brought it to the home
+of the two sisters, who did all they could to squeeze a foot into the
+slipper. This, however, they could not manage.</p>
+
+<p>Cinderella was looking on and recognised her slipper:</p>
+
+<p>'Let me see,' she cried, laughingly, 'if it will not fit me.'</p>
+
+<a id="img030" name="img030"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img030.jpg" width="458" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>They tried it first on the princesses</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Her sisters burst out laughing, and began to gibe at her, but the
+equerry who was trying on the slipper looked closely <span class="pagenum"><a id="page91" name="page91"></a>[p. 91]</span> at
+Cinderella. Observing that she was very beautiful he declared that the
+claim was quite a fair one, and that his orders were to try the slipper
+on every maiden. He bade Cinderella sit down, and on putting the slipper
+to her little foot he perceived that the latter slid in without trouble,
+and was moulded to its shape like wax.</p>
+
+<p>Great was the astonishment of the two sisters at this, and greater still
+when Cinderella drew from her pocket the other little slipper. This she
+likewise drew on.</p>
+
+<p>At that very moment her godmother appeared on the scene. She gave a tap
+with her wand to Cinderella's clothes, and transformed them into a dress
+even more magnificent than her previous ones.</p>
+
+<p>The two sisters recognised her for the beautiful person whom they had
+seen at the ball, and threw themselves at her feet, begging her pardon
+for all the ill-treatment she had suffered at their hands.</p>
+
+<p>Cinderella raised them, and declaring as she embraced them that she
+pardoned them with all her heart, bade them to love her well in future.</p>
+
+<p>She was taken to the palace of the young prince in all her new array. He
+found her more beautiful than ever, and was married to her a few days
+afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>Cinderella was as good as she was beautiful. She set aside apartments in
+the palace for her two sisters, and married them the very same day to
+two gentlemen of high rank about the Court.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page92" name="page92"></a>[p. 92]</span> LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD</h2>
+
+
+<p>Once upon a time there was a little village girl, the prettiest that had
+ever been seen. Her mother doted on her. Her grandmother was even
+fonder, and made her a little red hood, which became her so well that
+everywhere she went by the name of Little Red Riding Hood.</p>
+
+<p>One day her mother, who had just made and baked some cakes, said to her:</p>
+
+<p>'Go and see how your grandmother is, for I have been told that she is
+ill. Take her a cake and this little pot of butter.'</p>
+
+<p>Little Red Riding Hood set off at once for the house of her grandmother,
+who lived in another village.</p>
+
+<p>On her way through a wood she met old Father Wolf. He would have very
+much liked to eat her, but dared not do so on account of some
+wood-cutters who were in the forest. He asked her where she was going.
+The poor child, not knowing that it was dangerous to stop and listen to
+a wolf, said:</p>
+
+<p>'I am going to see my grandmother, and am taking her a cake and a pot of
+butter which my mother has sent to her.'</p>
+
+<p>'Does she live far away?' asked the Wolf.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes,' replied Little Red Riding Hood; 'it is yonder by the mill
+which you can see right below there, and it is the first house in the
+village.'</p>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page93" name="page93"></a>[p. 93]</span>
+<a id="img031" name="img031"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img031.jpg" width="455" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>Little Red Riding Hood</i></p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page95" name="page95"></a>[p. 95]</span> 'Well now,' said the Wolf, 'I think I shall go and see her too.
+I will go by this path, and you by that path, and we will see who gets
+there first.'</p>
+
+<a id="img032" name="img032"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img032.jpg" width="500" height="426" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>She met old Father Wolf</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>The Wolf set off running with all his might by the shorter road, and the
+little girl continued on her way by the longer road. As she went she
+amused herself by gathering nuts, running after the butterflies, and
+making nosegays of the wild flowers which she found.</p>
+
+<p>The Wolf was not long in reaching the grandmother's house.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page96" name="page96"></a>[p. 96]</span> He knocked. <i>Toc Toc.</i></p>
+
+<p>'Who is there?'</p>
+
+<p>'It is your little daughter, Red Riding Hood,' said the Wolf, disguising
+his voice, 'and I bring you a cake and a little pot of butter as a
+present from my mother.'</p>
+
+<a id="img033" name="img033"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img033.jpg" width="500" height="387" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Making nosegays of the wild flowers</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>The worthy grandmother was in bed, not being very well, and cried out to
+him:</p>
+
+<p>'Pull out the peg and the latch will fall.'</p>
+
+<p>The Wolf drew out the peg and the door flew open. Then he sprang upon
+the poor old lady and ate her up in less than no time, for he had been
+more than three days without food.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page97" name="page97"></a>[p. 97]</span> After that he shut the door, lay down in the grandmother's bed,
+and waited for Little Red Riding Hood.</p>
+
+<p>Presently she came and knocked. <i>Toc Toc.</i></p>
+
+<p>'Who is there?'</p>
+
+<p>Now Little Red Riding Hood on hearing the Wolf's gruff voice was at
+first frightened, but thinking that her grandmother had a bad cold, she
+replied:</p>
+
+<p>'It is your little daughter, Red Riding Hood, and I bring you a cake and
+a little pot of butter from my mother.'</p>
+
+<a id="img034" name="img034"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img034.jpg" width="500" height="396" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Come up on the bed with me</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Softening his voice, the Wolf called out to her:</p>
+
+<p>'Pull out the peg and the latch will fall.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page98" name="page98"></a>[p. 98]</span> Little Red Riding Hood drew out the peg and the door flew open.</p>
+
+<p>When he saw her enter, the Wolf hid himself in the bed beneath the
+counterpane.</p>
+
+<p>'Put the cake and the little pot of butter on the bin,' he said, 'and
+come up on the bed with me.'</p>
+
+<p>Little Red Riding Hood took off her clothes, but when she climbed up on
+the bed she was astonished to see how her grandmother looked in her
+nightgown.</p>
+
+<p>'Grandmother dear!' she exclaimed, 'what big arms you have!'</p>
+
+<p>'The better to embrace you, my child!'</p>
+
+<p>'Grandmother dear, what big legs you have!'</p>
+
+<p>'The better to run with, my child!'</p>
+
+<p>'Grandmother dear, what big ears you have!'</p>
+
+<p>'The better to hear with, my child!'</p>
+
+<p>'Grandmother dear, what big eyes you have!'</p>
+
+<p>'The better to see with, my child!'</p>
+
+<p>'Grandmother dear, what big teeth you have!'</p>
+
+<p>'The better to eat you with!'</p>
+
+<p>With these words the wicked Wolf leapt upon Little Red Riding Hood and
+gobbled her up.</p>
+
+<a id="img035" name="img035"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img035.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">'You must die, madam,' he said.</span>"</p></div>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page99" name="page99"></a>[p. 99]</span> BLUE BEARD</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there was a man who owned splendid town and country
+houses, gold and silver plate, tapestries and coaches gilt all over. But
+the poor fellow had a blue beard, and this made him so ugly and
+frightful that there was not a woman or girl who did not run away at
+sight of him.</p>
+
+<p>Amongst his neighbours was a lady of high degree who had two
+surpassingly beautiful daughters. He asked for the hand of one of these
+in marriage, leaving it to their mother to choose which should be
+bestowed upon him. Both girls, however, raised objections, and his offer
+was bandied from one to the other, neither being able to bring herself
+to accept a man with a blue beard. Another reason for their distaste was
+the fact that he had already married several wives, and no one knew what
+had become of them.</p>
+
+<p>In order that they might become better acquainted, Blue Beard invited
+the two girls, with their mother and three or four of their best
+friends, to meet a party of young men from the neighbourhood at one of
+his country houses. Here they spent eight whole days, and throughout
+their stay there was a constant round of picnics, hunting and fishing
+expeditions, dances, dinners, and luncheons; and they never slept at
+all, through spending all the night in playing merry pranks upon each
+other. In short, everything <span class="pagenum"><a id="page100" name="page100"></a>[p. 100]</span> went so gaily that the younger
+daughter began to think the master of the house had not so very blue a
+beard after all, and that he was an exceedingly agreeable man. As soon
+as the party returned to town their marriage took place.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of a month Blue Beard informed his wife that important
+business obliged him to make a journey into a distant part of the
+country, which would occupy at least six weeks. He begged her to amuse
+herself well during his absence, and suggested that she should invite
+some of her friends and take them, if she liked, to the country. He was
+particularly anxious that she should enjoy herself thoroughly.</p>
+
+<p>'Here,' he said, 'are the keys of the two large storerooms, and here is
+the one that locks up the gold and silver plate which is not in everyday
+use. This key belongs to the strong-boxes where my gold and silver is
+kept, this to the caskets containing my jewels; while here you have the
+master-key which gives admittance to all the apartments. As regards this
+little key, it is the key of the small room at the end of the long
+passage on the lower floor. You may open everything, you may go
+everywhere, but I forbid you to enter this little room. And I forbid you
+so seriously that if you were indeed to open the door, I should be so
+angry that I might do anything.'</p>
+
+<p>She promised to follow out these instructions exactly, and after
+embracing her, Blue Beard steps into his coach and is off upon his
+journey.</p>
+
+<a id="img036" name="img036"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img036.jpg" width="463" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>Blue Beard</i></p></div>
+
+<p>Her neighbours and friends did not wait to be invited before coming to
+call upon the young bride, so great was their eagerness to see the
+splendours of her house. They <span class="pagenum"><a id="page103" name="page103"></a>[p. 103]</span> had not dared to venture while
+her husband was there, for his blue beard frightened them. But in less
+than no time there they were, running in and out of the rooms, the
+closets, and the wardrobes, each of which was finer than the last.
+Presently they went upstairs to the storerooms, and there they could not
+admire enough the profusion and magnificence of the tapestries, beds,
+sofas, cabinets, tables, and stands. There were mirrors in which they
+could view themselves from top to toe, some with frames of plate glass,
+others with frames of silver and gilt lacquer, that were the most superb
+and beautiful things that had ever been seen. They were loud and
+persistent in their envy of their friend's good fortune. She, on the
+other hand, derived little amusement from the sight of all these riches,
+the reason being that she was impatient to go and inspect the little
+room on the lower floor.</p>
+
+<p>So overcome with curiosity was she that, without reflecting upon the
+discourtesy of leaving her guests, she ran down a private staircase, so
+precipitately that twice or thrice she nearly broke her neck, and so
+reached the door of the little room. There she paused for a while,
+thinking of the prohibition which her husband had made, and reflecting
+that harm might come to her as a result of disobedience. But the
+temptation was so great that she could not conquer it. Taking the little
+key, with a trembling hand she opened the door of the room.</p>
+
+<p>At first she saw nothing, for the windows were closed, but after a few
+moments she perceived dimly that the floor was entirely covered with
+clotted blood, and that in this were reflected the dead bodies of
+several women that hung along the walls. These were all the wives
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page104" name="page104"></a>[p. 104]</span> of Blue Beard, whose throats he had cut, one after another.</p>
+
+<p>She thought to die of terror, and the key of the room, which she had
+just withdrawn from the lock, fell from her hand.</p>
+
+<p>When she had somewhat regained her senses, she picked up the key, closed
+the door, and went up to her chamber to compose herself a little. But
+this she could not do, for her nerves were too shaken. Noticing that the
+key of the little room was stained with blood, she wiped it two or three
+times. But the blood did not go. She washed it well, and even rubbed it
+with sand and grit. Always the blood remained. For the key was
+bewitched, and there was no means of cleaning it completely. When the
+blood was removed from one side, it reappeared on the other.</p>
+
+<a id="img037" name="img037"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img037.jpg" width="288" height="400" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>She washed it well</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Blue Beard returned from his journey that very evening. He had received
+some letters on the way, he said, from which he learned that the
+business upon which he had set forth had just been concluded to his
+satisfaction. His wife did everything <span class="pagenum"><a id="page107" name="page107"></a>[p. 107]</span> she could to make it
+appear that she was delighted by his speedy return.</p>
+
+<a id="img038" name="img038"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img038.jpg" width="459" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>Sister Anne</i></p></div>
+
+<p>On the morrow he demanded the keys. She gave them to him, but with so
+trembling a hand that he guessed at once what had happened.</p>
+
+<p>'How comes it,' he said to her, 'that the key of the little room is not
+with the others?'</p>
+
+<p>'I must have left it upstairs upon my table,' she said.</p>
+
+<p>'Do not fail to bring it to me presently,' said Blue Beard.</p>
+
+<p>After several delays the key had to be brought. Blue Beard examined it,
+and addressed his wife.</p>
+
+<p>'Why is there blood on this key?'</p>
+
+<p>'I do not know at all,' replied the poor woman, paler than death.</p>
+
+<p>'You do not know at all?' exclaimed Blue Beard; 'I know well enough. You
+wanted to enter the little room! Well, madam, enter it you shall&mdash;you
+shall go and take your place among the ladies you have seen there.'</p>
+
+<p>She threw herself at her husband's feet, asking his pardon with tears,
+and with all the signs of a true repentance for her disobedience. She
+would have softened a rock, in her beauty and distress, but Blue Beard
+had a heart harder than any stone.</p>
+
+<p>'You must die, madam,' he said; 'and at once.'</p>
+
+<p>'Since I must die,' she replied, gazing at him with eyes that were wet
+with tears, 'give me a little time to say my prayers.'</p>
+
+<p>'I give you one quarter of an hour,' replied Blue Beard, 'but not a
+moment longer.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page108" name="page108"></a>[p. 108]</span> When the poor girl was alone, she called her sister to her and
+said:</p>
+
+<p>'Sister Anne'&mdash;for that was her name&mdash;'go up, I implore you, to the top
+of the tower, and see if my brothers are not approaching. They promised
+that they would come and visit me to-day. If you see them, make signs to
+them to hasten.'</p>
+
+<p>Sister Anne went up to the top of the tower, and the poor unhappy girl
+cried out to her from time to time:</p>
+
+<p>'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'</p>
+
+<p>And Sister Anne replied:</p>
+
+<p>'I see nought but dust in the sun and the green grass growing.'</p>
+
+<p>Presently Blue Beard, grasping a great cutlass, cried out at the top of
+his voice:</p>
+
+<p>'Come down quickly, or I shall come upstairs myself.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh please, one moment more,' called out his wife.</p>
+
+<p>And at the same moment she cried in a whisper:</p>
+
+<p>'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'</p>
+
+<p>'I see nought but dust in the sun and the green grass growing.'</p>
+
+<p>'Come down at once, I say,' shouted Blue Beard, 'or I will come upstairs
+myself.'</p>
+
+<p>'I am coming,' replied his wife.</p>
+
+<p>Then she called:</p>
+
+<p>'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'</p>
+
+<p>'I see,' replied Sister Anne, 'a great cloud of dust which comes this
+way.'</p>
+
+<p>'Is it my brothers?'</p>
+
+<p>'Alas, sister, no; it is but a flock of sheep.'</p>
+
+<p>'Do you refuse to come down?' roared Blue Beard.</p>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page109" name="page109"></a>[p. 109]</span>
+<a id="img039" name="img039"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img039.jpg" width="454" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>Brandishing the cutlass aloft</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page111" name="page111"></a>[p. 111]</span> 'One little moment more,' exclaimed his wife.</p>
+
+<p>Once more she cried:</p>
+
+<p>'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'</p>
+
+<p>'I see,' replied her sister, 'two horsemen who come this way, but they
+are as yet a long way off.... Heaven be praised,' she exclaimed a moment
+later, 'they are my brothers.... I am signalling to them all I can to
+hasten.'</p>
+
+<p>Blue Beard let forth so mighty a shout that the whole house shook. The
+poor wife went down and cast herself at his feet, all dishevelled and in
+tears.</p>
+
+<p>'That avails you nothing,' said Blue Beard; 'you must die.'</p>
+
+<p>Seizing her by the hair with one hand, and with the other brandishing
+the cutlass aloft, he made as if to cut off her head.</p>
+
+<p>The poor woman, turning towards him and fixing a dying gaze upon him,
+begged for a brief moment in which to collect her thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>'No! no!' he cried; 'commend your soul to Heaven.' And raising his
+arm&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>At this very moment there came so loud a knocking at the gate that Blue
+Beard stopped short. The gate was opened, and two horsemen dashed in,
+who drew their swords and rode straight at Blue Beard. The latter
+recognised them as the brothers of his wife&mdash;one of them a dragoon, and
+the other a musketeer&mdash;and fled instantly in an effort to escape. But
+the two brothers were so close upon him that they caught him ere he
+could gain the first flight of steps. They plunged their swords through
+his body and left him dead. The poor woman was nearly as dead as her
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page112" name="page112"></a>[p. 112]</span> husband, and had not the strength to rise and embrace her
+brothers.</p>
+
+<p>It was found that Blue Beard had no heirs, and that consequently his
+wife became mistress of all his wealth. She devoted a portion to
+arranging a marriage between her sister Anne and a young gentleman with
+whom the latter had been for some time in love, while another portion
+purchased a captain's commission for each of her brothers. The rest
+formed a dowry for her own marriage with a very worthy man, who banished
+from her mind all memory of the evil days she had spent with Blue
+Beard.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page113" name="page113"></a>[p. 113]</span> BEAUTY AND THE BEAST</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there lived a merchant who was exceedingly rich. He had
+six children&mdash;three boys and three girls&mdash;and being a sensible man he
+spared no expense upon their education, but engaged tutors of every kind
+for them. All his daughters were pretty, but the youngest especially was
+admired by everybody. When she was small she was known simply as 'the
+little beauty,' and this name stuck to her, causing a great deal of
+jealousy on the part of her sisters.</p>
+
+<p>This youngest girl was not only prettier than her sisters, but very much
+nicer. The two elder girls were very arrogant as a result of their
+wealth; they pretended to be great ladies, declining to receive the
+daughters of other merchants, and associating only with people of
+quality. Every day they went off to balls and theatres, and for walks in
+the park, with many a gibe at their little sister, who spent much of her
+time in reading good books.</p>
+
+<p>Now these girls were known to be very rich, and in consequence were
+sought in marriage by many prominent merchants. The two eldest said they
+would never marry unless they could find a duke, or at least a count.
+But Beauty&mdash;this, as I have mentioned, was the name by which the
+youngest was known&mdash;very politely thanked all who proposed marriage to
+her, and said that she was too young at present, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page114" name="page114"></a>[p. 114]</span> and that she
+wished to keep her father company for several years yet.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly the merchant lost his fortune, the sole property which remained
+to him being a small house in the country, a long way from the capital.
+With tears he broke it to his children that they would have to move to
+this house, where by working like peasants they might just be able to
+live.</p>
+
+<p>The two elder girls replied that they did not wish to leave the town,
+and that they had several admirers who would be only too happy to marry
+them, notwithstanding their loss of fortune. But the simple maidens were
+mistaken: their admirers would no longer look at them, now that they
+were poor. Everybody disliked them on account of their arrogance, and
+folks declared that they did not deserve pity: in fact, that it was a
+good thing their pride had had a fall&mdash;a turn at minding sheep would
+teach them how to play the fine lady! 'But we are very sorry for
+Beauty's misfortune,' everybody added; 'she is such a dear girl, and was
+always so considerate to poor people: so gentle, and with such charming
+manners!'</p>
+
+<p>There were even several worthy men who would have married her, despite
+the fact that she was now penniless; but she told them she could not
+make up her mind to leave her poor father in his misfortune, and that
+she intended to go with him to the country, to comfort him and help him
+to work. Poor Beauty had been very grieved at first over the loss of her
+fortune, but she said to herself:</p>
+
+<p>'However much I cry, I shall not recover my wealth, so I must try to be
+happy without it.'</p>
+
+<p>When they were established in the country the merchant <span class="pagenum"><a id="page115" name="page115"></a>[p. 115]</span> and his
+family started working on the land. Beauty used to rise at four o'clock
+in the morning, and was busy all day looking after the house, and
+preparing dinner for the family. At first she found it very hard, for
+she was not accustomed to work like a servant, but at the end of a
+couple of months she grew stronger, and her health was improved by the
+work. When she had leisure she read, or played the harpsichord, or sang
+at her spinning-wheel.</p>
+
+<a id="img040" name="img040"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img040.jpg" width="500" height="410" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>At first she found it very hard</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>Her two sisters, on the other hand, were bored to death; they did not
+get up till ten o'clock in the morning, and they idled about all day.
+Their only diversion was to bemoan <span class="pagenum"><a id="page116" name="page116"></a>[p. 116]</span> the beautiful clothes they
+used to wear and the company they used to keep. 'Look at our little
+sister,' they would say to each other; 'her tastes are so low and her
+mind so stupid that she is quite content with this miserable state of
+affairs.'</p>
+
+<p>The good merchant did not share the opinion of his two daughters, for he
+knew that Beauty was more fitted to shine in company than her sisters.
+He was greatly impressed by the girl's good qualities, and especially by
+her patience&mdash;for her sisters, not content with leaving her all the work
+of the house, never missed an opportunity of insulting her.</p>
+
+<p>They had been living for a year in this seclusion when the merchant
+received a letter informing him that a ship on which he had some
+merchandise had just come safely home. The news nearly turned the heads
+of the two elder girls, for they thought that at last they would be able
+to quit their dull life in the country. When they saw their father ready
+to set out they begged him to bring them back dresses, furs, caps, and
+finery of every kind. Beauty asked for nothing, thinking to herself that
+all the money which the merchandise might yield would not be enough to
+satisfy her sisters' demands.</p>
+
+<p>'You have not asked me for anything,' said her father.</p>
+
+<p>'As you are so kind as to think of me,' she replied, 'please bring me a
+rose, for there are none here.'</p>
+
+<p>Beauty had no real craving for a rose, but she was anxious not to seem
+to disparage the conduct of her sisters. The latter would have declared
+that she purposely asked for nothing in order to be different from them.</p>
+
+<a id="img041" name="img041"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img041.jpg" width="462" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'"<i>Look at our little sister</i>"'</p></div>
+
+<p>The merchant duly set forth; but when he reached his <span class="pagenum"><a id="page119" name="page119"></a>[p. 119]</span>
+destination there was a law-suit over his merchandise, and after much
+trouble he returned poorer than he had been before. With only thirty
+miles to go before reaching home, he was already looking forward to the
+pleasure of seeing his children again, when he found he had to pass
+through a large wood. Here he lost himself. It was snowing horribly; the
+wind was so strong that twice he was thrown from his horse, and when
+night came on he made up his mind he must either die of hunger and cold
+or be eaten by the wolves that he could hear howling all about him.</p>
+
+<a id="img042" name="img042"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img042.jpg" width="500" height="421" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>It was snowing horribly</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page120" name="page120"></a>[p. 120]</span> Suddenly he saw, at the end of a long avenue of trees, a strong
+light. It seemed to be some distance away, but he walked towards it, and
+presently discovered that it came from a large palace, which was all lit
+up.</p>
+
+<p>The merchant thanked heaven for sending him this help, and hastened to
+the castle. To his surprise, however, he found no one about in the
+courtyards. His horse, which had followed him, saw a large stable open
+and went in; and on finding hay and oats in readiness the poor animal,
+which was dying of hunger, set to with a will. The merchant tied him up
+in the stable, and approached the house, where he found not a soul. He
+entered a large room; here there was a good fire, and a table laden with
+food, but with a place laid for one only. The rain and snow had soaked
+him to the skin, so he drew near the fire to dry himself. 'I am sure,'
+he remarked to himself, 'that the master of this house or his servants
+will forgive the liberty I am taking; doubtless they will be here soon.'</p>
+
+<p>He waited some considerable time; but eleven o'clock struck and still he
+had seen nobody. Being no longer able to resist his hunger he took a
+chicken and devoured it in two mouthfuls, trembling. Then he drank
+several glasses of wine, and becoming bolder ventured out of the room.
+He went through several magnificently furnished apartments, and finally
+found a room with a very good bed. It was now past midnight, and as he
+was very tired he decided to shut the door and go to bed.</p>
+
+<p>It was ten o'clock the next morning when he rose, and he was greatly
+astonished to find a new suit in place of his own, which had been
+spoilt. 'This palace,' he said to himself, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page121" name="page121"></a>[p. 121]</span> 'must surely belong
+to some good fairy, who has taken pity on my plight.'</p>
+
+<p>He looked out of the window. The snow had vanished, and his eyes rested
+instead upon arbours of flowers&mdash;a charming spectacle. He went back to
+the room where he had supped the night before, and found there a little
+table with a cup of chocolate on it. 'I thank you, Madam Fairy,' he said
+aloud, 'for being so kind as to think of my breakfast.'</p>
+
+<p>Having drunk his chocolate the good man went forth to look for his
+horse. As he passed under a bower of roses he remembered that Beauty had
+asked for one, and he plucked a spray from a mass of blooms. The very
+same moment he heard a terrible noise, and saw a beast coming towards
+him which was so hideous that he came near to fainting.</p>
+
+<p>'Ungrateful wretch!' said the Beast, in a dreadful voice; 'I have saved
+your life by receiving you into my castle, and in return for my trouble
+you steal that which I love better than anything in the world&mdash;my roses.
+You shall pay for this with your life! I give you fifteen minutes to
+make your peace with Heaven.'</p>
+
+<p>The merchant threw himself on his knees and wrung his hands. 'Pardon, my
+lord!' he cried; 'one of my daughters had asked for a rose, and I did
+not dream I should be giving offence by picking one.'</p>
+
+<p>'I am not called "my lord,"' answered the monster, 'but "The Beast." I
+have no liking for compliments, but prefer people to say what they
+think. Do not hope therefore to soften me by flattery. You have
+daughters, you say; well, I am willing to pardon you if one of your
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page122" name="page122"></a>[p. 122]</span> daughters will come, of her own choice, to die in your place.
+Do not argue with me&mdash;go! And swear that if your daughters refuse to die
+in your place you will come back again in three months.'</p>
+
+<a id="img043" name="img043"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img043.jpg" width="500" height="399" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>The Beast</i></p></div>
+
+<p>The good man had no intention of sacrificing one of his daughters to
+this hideous monster, but he thought that at least he might have the
+pleasure of kissing them once again. He therefore swore to return, and
+the Beast told him he could go when he wished. 'I do not wish you to go
+empty-handed,' he added; 'return to the room where you slept; you will
+find there a large empty box. Fill it with what you will; I will have it
+sent home for you.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page123" name="page123"></a>[p. 123]</span> With these words the Beast withdrew, leaving the merchant to
+reflect that if he must indeed die, at all events he would have the
+consolation of providing for his poor children.</p>
+
+<p>He went back to the room where he had slept. He found there a large
+number of gold pieces, and with these he filled the box the Beast had
+mentioned. Having closed the latter, he took his horse, which was still
+in the stable, and set forth from the palace, as melancholy now as he
+had been joyous when he entered it.</p>
+
+<p>The horse of its own accord took one of the forest roads, and in a few
+hours the good man reached his own little house. His children crowded
+round him, but at sight of them, instead of welcoming their caresses, he
+burst into tears. In his hand was the bunch of roses which he had
+brought for Beauty, and he gave it to her with these words:</p>
+
+<p>'Take these roses, Beauty; it is dearly that your poor father will have
+to pay for them.'</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon he told his family of the dire adventure which had befallen
+him. On hearing the tale the two elder girls were in a great commotion,
+and began to upbraid Beauty for not weeping as they did. 'See to what
+her smugness has brought this young chit,' they said; 'surely she might
+strive to find some way out of this trouble, as we do! But oh, dear me,
+no; her ladyship is so determined to be different that she can speak of
+her father's death without a tear!'</p>
+
+<p>'It would be quite useless to weep,' said Beauty. 'Why should I lament
+my father's death? He is not going to die. Since the monster agrees to
+accept a daughter instead, I intend to offer myself to appease his fury.
+It will be a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page124" name="page124"></a>[p. 124]</span> happiness to do so, for in dying I shall have the
+joy of saving my father, and of proving to him my devotion.'</p>
+
+<p>'No, sister,' said her three brothers; 'you shall not die; we will go in
+quest of this monster, and will perish under his blows if we cannot kill
+him.'</p>
+
+<p>'Do not entertain any such hopes, my children,' said the merchant; 'the
+power of this Beast is so great that I have not the slightest
+expectation of escaping him. I am touched by the goodness of Beauty's
+heart, but I will not expose her to death. I am old and have not much
+longer to live; and I shall merely lose a few years that will be
+regretted only on account of you, my dear children.'</p>
+
+<p>'I can assure you, father,' said Beauty, 'that you will not go to this
+palace without me. You cannot prevent me from following you. Although I
+am young I am not so very deeply in love with life, and I would rather
+be devoured by this monster than die of the grief which your loss would
+cause me.' Words were useless. Beauty was quite determined to go to this
+wonderful palace, and her sisters were not sorry, for they regarded her
+good qualities with deep jealousy.</p>
+
+<p>The merchant was so taken up with the sorrow of losing his daughter that
+he forgot all about the box which he had filled with gold. To his
+astonishment, when he had shut the door of his room and was about to
+retire for the night, there it was at the side of his bed! He decided
+not to tell his children that he had become so rich, for his elder
+daughters would have wanted to go back to town, and he had resolved to
+die in the country. He did confide his secret to Beauty, however, and
+the latter told him that during his absence they had entertained some
+visitors, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page125" name="page125"></a>[p. 125]</span> amongst whom were two admirers of her sisters. She
+begged her father to let them marry; for she was of such a sweet nature
+that she loved them, and forgave them with all her heart the evil they
+had done her.</p>
+
+<p>When Beauty set off with her father the two heartless girls rubbed their
+eyes with an onion, so as to seem tearful; but her brothers wept in
+reality, as did also the merchant. Beauty alone did not cry, because she
+did not want to add to their sorrow.</p>
+
+<p>The horse took the road to the palace, and by evening they espied it,
+all lit up as before. An empty stable awaited the nag, and when the good
+merchant and his daughter entered the great hall, they found there a
+table magnificently laid for two people. The merchant had not the heart
+to eat, but Beauty, forcing herself to appear calm, sat down and served
+him. Since the Beast had provided such splendid fare, she thought to
+herself, he must presumably be anxious to fatten her up before eating
+her.</p>
+
+<p>When they had finished supper they heard a terrible noise. With tears
+the merchant bade farewell to his daughter, for he knew it was the
+Beast. Beauty herself could not help trembling at the awful apparition,
+but she did her best to compose herself. The Beast asked her if she had
+come of her own free will, and she timidly answered that such was the
+case.</p>
+
+<p>'You are indeed kind,' said the Beast, 'and I am much obliged to you.
+You, my good man, will depart to-morrow morning, and you must not think
+of coming back again. Good-bye, Beauty!'</p>
+
+<p>'Good-bye, Beast!' she answered.</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon the monster suddenly disappeared.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page126" name="page126"></a>[p. 126]</span> 'Daughter,' said the merchant, embracing Beauty, 'I am nearly
+dead with fright. Let me be the one to stay here!'</p>
+
+<p>'No, father,' said Beauty, firmly, 'you must go to-morrow morning, and
+leave me to the mercy of Heaven. Perhaps pity will be taken on me.'</p>
+
+<p>They retired to rest, thinking they would not sleep at all during the
+night, but they were hardly in bed before their eyes were closed in
+sleep. In her dreams there appeared to Beauty a lady, who said to her:</p>
+
+<p>'Your virtuous character pleases me, Beauty. In thus undertaking to give
+your life to save your father you have performed an act of goodness
+which shall not go unrewarded.'</p>
+
+<p>When she woke up Beauty related this dream to her father. He was
+somewhat consoled by it, but could not refrain from loudly giving vent
+to his grief when the time came to tear himself away from his beloved
+child.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he had gone Beauty sat down in the great hall and began to
+cry. But she had plenty of courage, and after imploring divine
+protection she determined to grieve no more during the short time she
+had yet to live.</p>
+
+<p>She was convinced that the Beast would devour her that night, but made
+up her mind that in the interval she would walk about and have a look at
+this beautiful castle, the splendour of which she could not but admire.</p>
+
+<p>Imagine her surprise when she came upon a door on which were the words
+'Beauty's Room'! She quickly opened this door, and was dazzled by the
+magnificence of the appointments within. 'They are evidently anxious
+that I should not be dull,' she murmured, as she caught <span class="pagenum"><a id="page127" name="page127"></a>[p. 127]</span> sight
+of a large bookcase, a harpsichord, and several volumes of music. A
+moment later another thought crossed her mind. 'If I had only a day to
+spend here,' she reflected, 'such provision would surely not have been
+made for me.'</p>
+
+<p>This notion gave her fresh courage. She opened the bookcase, and found a
+book in which was written, in letters of gold:</p>
+
+<p>'Ask for anything you wish: you are mistress of all here.'</p>
+
+<p>'Alas!' she said with a sigh, 'my only wish is to see my poor father,
+and to know what he is doing.'</p>
+
+<p>As she said this to herself she glanced at a large mirror. Imagine her
+astonishment when she perceived her home reflected in it, and saw her
+father just approaching. Sorrow was written on his face; but when her
+sisters came to meet him it was impossible not to detect, despite the
+grimaces with which they tried to simulate grief, the satisfaction they
+felt at the loss of their sister. In a moment the vision faded away, yet
+Beauty could not but think that the Beast was very kind, and that she
+had nothing much to fear from him.</p>
+
+<p>At midday she found the table laid, and during her meal she enjoyed an
+excellent concert, though the performers were invisible. But in the
+evening, as she was about to sit down at the table, she heard the noise
+made by the Beast, and quaked in spite of herself.</p>
+
+<p>'Beauty,' said the monster to her, 'may I watch you have your supper?'</p>
+
+<p>'You are master here,' said the trembling Beauty.</p>
+
+<p>'Not so,' replied the Beast; 'it is you who are mistress; you have only
+to tell me to go, if my presence annoys you, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page128" name="page128"></a>[p.  128]</span> and I will go
+immediately. Tell me, now, do you not consider me very ugly?'</p>
+
+<p>'I do,' said Beauty, 'since I must speak the truth; but I think you are
+also very kind.'</p>
+
+<p>'It is as you say,' said the monster; 'and in addition to being ugly, I
+lack intelligence. As I am well aware, I am a mere beast.'</p>
+
+<p>'It is not the way with stupid people,' answered Beauty, 'to admit a
+lack of intelligence. Fools never realise it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Sup well, Beauty,' said the monster, 'and try to banish dulness from
+your home&mdash;for all about you is yours, and I should be sorry to think
+you were not happy.'</p>
+
+<p>'You are indeed kind,' said Beauty. 'With one thing, I must own, I am
+well pleased, and that is your kind heart. When I think of that you no
+longer seem to be ugly.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes,' answered the Beast, 'I have a good heart, right enough, but I
+am a monster.'</p>
+
+<p>'There are many men,' said Beauty, 'who make worse monsters than you,
+and I prefer you, notwithstanding your looks, to those who under the
+semblance of men hide false, corrupt, and ungrateful hearts.'</p>
+
+<p>The Beast replied that if only he had a grain of wit he would compliment
+her in the grand style by way of thanks; but that being so stupid he
+could only say he was much obliged.</p>
+
+<p>Beauty ate with a good appetite, for she now had scarcely any fear of
+the Beast. But she nearly died of fright when he put this question to
+her:</p>
+
+<p>'Beauty, will you be my wife?'</p>
+
+<p>For some time she did not answer, fearing lest she might <span class="pagenum"><a id="page129" name="page129"></a>[p. 129]</span> anger
+the monster by her refusal. She summoned up courage at last to say,
+rather fearfully, 'No, Beast!'</p>
+
+<p>The poor monster gave forth so terrible a sigh that the noise of it went
+whistling through the whole palace. But to Beauty's speedy relief the
+Beast sadly took his leave and left the room, turning several times as
+he did so to look once more at her. Left alone, Beauty was moved by
+great compassion for this poor Beast. 'What a pity he is so ugly,' she
+said, 'for he is so good.'</p>
+
+<p>Beauty passed three months in the palace quietly enough. Every evening
+the Beast paid her a visit, and entertained her at supper by a display
+of much good sense, if not with what the world calls wit. And every day
+Beauty was made aware of fresh kindnesses on the part of the monster.
+Through seeing him often she had become accustomed to his ugliness, and
+far from dreading the moment of his visit, she frequently looked at her
+watch to see if it was nine o'clock, the hour when the Beast always
+appeared.</p>
+
+<p>One thing alone troubled Beauty; every evening, before retiring to bed,
+the monster asked her if she would be his wife, and seemed overwhelmed
+with grief when she refused. One day she said to him:</p>
+
+<p>'You distress me, Beast. I wish I could marry you, but I cannot deceive
+you by allowing you to believe that that can ever be. I will always be
+your friend&mdash;be content with that.'</p>
+
+<p>'Needs must,' said the Beast. 'But let me make the position plain. I
+know I am very terrible, but I love you very much, and I shall be very
+happy if you will only remain here. Promise that you will never leave
+me.'</p>
+
+<p>Beauty blushed at these words. She had seen in her mirror that her
+father was stricken down by the sorrow <span class="pagenum"><a id="page130" name="page130"></a>[p. 130]</span> of having lost her, and
+she wished very much to see him again. 'I would willingly promise to
+remain with you always,' she said to the Beast, 'but I have so great a
+desire to see my father again that I shall die of grief if you refuse me
+this boon.'</p>
+
+<p>'I would rather die myself than cause you grief,' said the monster. 'I
+will send you back to your father. You shall stay with him, and your
+Beast shall die of sorrow at your departure.'</p>
+
+<p>'No, no,' said Beauty, crying; 'I like you too much to wish to cause
+your death. I promise you I will return in eight days. You have shown me
+that my sisters are married, and that my brothers have joined the army.
+My father is all alone; let me stay with him one week.'</p>
+
+<p>'You shall be with him to-morrow morning,' said the Beast. 'But remember
+your promise. All you have to do when you want to return is to put your
+ring on a table when you are going to bed. Good-bye, Beauty!'</p>
+
+<p>As usual, the Beast sighed when he said these last words, and Beauty
+went to bed quite down-hearted at having grieved him.</p>
+
+<a id="img044" name="img044"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img044.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Every evening the beast paid her a visit.</span>"</p></div>
+
+<p>When she woke the next morning she found she was in her father's house.
+She rang a little bell which stood by the side of her bed, and it was
+answered by their servant, who gave a great cry at sight of her. The
+good man came running at the noise, and was overwhelmed with joy at the
+sight of his dear daughter. Their embraces lasted for more than a
+quarter of an hour. When their transports had subsided, it occurred to
+Beauty that she had no clothes to put on; but the servant told her that
+she had just discovered in the next room a chest full of dresses trimmed
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page131" name="page131"></a>[p. 131]</span> with gold and studded with diamonds. Beauty felt grateful to
+the Beast for this attention, and having selected the simplest of the
+gowns she bade the servant pack up the others, as she wished to send
+them as presents to her sisters. The words were hardly out of her mouth
+when the chest disappeared. Her father expressed the opinion that the
+Beast wished her to keep them all for herself, and in a trice dresses
+and chest were back again where they were before.</p>
+
+<p>When Beauty had dressed she learned that her sisters, with their
+husbands, had arrived. Both were very unhappy. The eldest had wedded an
+exceedingly handsome man, but the latter was so taken up with his own
+looks that he studied them from morning to night, and despised his
+wife's beauty. The second had married a man with plenty of brains, but
+he only used them to pay insults to everybody&mdash;his wife first and
+foremost.</p>
+
+<p>The sisters were greatly mortified when they saw Beauty dressed like a
+princess, and more beautiful than the dawn. Her caresses were ignored,
+and the jealousy which they could not stifle only grew worse when she
+told them how happy she was. Out into the garden went the envious pair,
+there to vent their spleen to the full.</p>
+
+<p>'Why should this chit be happier than we are?' each demanded of the
+other; 'are we not much nicer than she is?'</p>
+
+<p>'Sister,' said the elder, 'I have an idea. Let us try to persuade her to
+stay here longer than the eight days. Her stupid Beast will fly into a
+rage when he finds she has broken her word, and will very likely devour
+her.'</p>
+
+<p>'You are right, sister,' said the other; 'but we must <span class="pagenum"><a id="page132" name="page132"></a>[p. 132]</span> make a
+great fuss of her if we are to make the plan successful.'</p>
+
+<p>With this plot decided upon they went upstairs again, and paid such
+attention to their little sister that Beauty wept for joy. When the
+eight days had passed the two sisters tore their hair, and showed such
+grief over her departure that she promised to remain another eight days.</p>
+
+<p>Beauty reproached herself, nevertheless, with the grief she was causing
+to the poor Beast; moreover, she greatly missed not seeing him. On the
+tenth night of her stay in her father's house she dreamed that she was
+in the palace garden, where she saw the Beast lying on the grass nearly
+dead, and that he upbraided her for her ingratitude. Beauty woke up with
+a start, and burst into tears.</p>
+
+<p>'I am indeed very wicked,' she said, 'to cause so much grief to a Beast
+who has shown me nothing but kindness. Is it his fault that he is so
+ugly, and has so few wits? He is good, and that makes up for all the
+rest. Why did I not wish to marry him? I should have been a good deal
+happier with him than my sisters are with their husbands. It is neither
+good looks nor brains in a husband that make a woman happy; it is beauty
+of character, virtue, kindness. All these qualities the Beast has. I
+admit I have no love for him, but he has my esteem, friendship, and
+gratitude. At all events I must not make him miserable, or I shall
+reproach myself all my life.'</p>
+
+<p>With these words Beauty rose and placed her ring on the table.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had she returned to her bed than she was asleep, and when she
+woke the next morning she saw with joy that she was in the Beast's
+palace. She dressed in her <span class="pagenum"><a id="page133" name="page133"></a>[p. 133]</span> very best on purpose to please him,
+and nearly died of impatience all day, waiting for nine o'clock in the
+evening. But the clock struck in vain: no Beast appeared. Beauty now
+thought she must have caused his death, and rushed about the palace with
+loud despairing cries. She looked everywhere, and at last, recalling her
+dream, dashed into the garden by the canal, where she had seen him in
+her sleep. There she found the poor Beast lying unconscious, and thought
+he must be dead. She threw herself on his body, all her horror of his
+looks forgotten, and, feeling his heart still beat, fetched water from
+the canal and threw it on his face.</p>
+
+<p>The Beast opened his eyes and said to Beauty:</p>
+
+<p>'You forgot your promise. The grief I felt at having lost you made me
+resolve to die of hunger; but I die content since I have the pleasure of
+seeing you once more.'</p>
+
+<p>'Dear Beast, you shall not die,' said Beauty; 'you shall live and become
+my husband. Here and now I offer you my hand, and swear that I will
+marry none but you. Alas, I fancied I felt only friendship for you, but
+the sorrow I have experienced clearly proves to me that I cannot live
+without you.'</p>
+
+<p>Beauty had scarce uttered these words when the castle became ablaze with
+lights before her eyes: fireworks, music&mdash;all proclaimed a feast. But
+these splendours were lost on her: she turned to her dear Beast, still
+trembling for his danger.</p>
+
+<p>Judge of her surprise now! At her feet she saw no longer the Beast, who
+had disappeared, but a prince, more beautiful than Love himself, who
+thanked her for having <span class="pagenum"><a id="page134" name="page134"></a>[p. 134]</span> put an end to his enchantment. With
+good reason were her eyes riveted upon the prince, but she asked him
+nevertheless where the Beast had gone.</p>
+
+<p>'You see him at your feet,' answered the prince. 'A wicked fairy
+condemned me to retain that form until some beautiful girl should
+consent to marry me, and she forbade me to betray any sign of
+intelligence. You alone in all the world could show yourself susceptible
+to the kindness of my character, and in offering you my crown I do but
+discharge the obligation that I owe you.'</p>
+
+<p>In agreeable surprise Beauty offered her hand to the handsome prince,
+and assisted him to rise. Together they repaired to the castle, and
+Beauty was overcome with joy to find, assembled in the hall, her father
+and her entire family. The lady who had appeared to her in her dream had
+had them transported to the castle.</p>
+
+<a id="img045" name="img045"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img045.jpg" width="454" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'"<i>Your doom is to become statues</i>"'</p></div>
+
+<p>'Beauty,' said this lady (who was a celebrated fairy), 'come and receive
+the reward of your noble choice. You preferred merit to either beauty or
+wit, and you certainly deserve to find these qualities combined in one
+person. It is your destiny to become a great queen, but I hope that the
+pomp of royalty will not destroy your virtues. As for you, ladies,' she
+continued, turning to Beauty's two sisters, 'I know your hearts and the
+malice they harbour. Your doom is to become statues, and under the stone
+that wraps you round to retain all your feelings. You will stand at the
+door of your sister's palace, and I can visit no greater punishment upon
+you than that you shall be witnesses of her happiness. Only when you
+recognise your faults can you return to your present shape, and I am
+very much afraid that you will be statues for ever. Pride, ill-temper,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page137" name="page137"></a>[p. 137]</span> greed, and laziness can all be corrected, but nothing short
+of a miracle will turn a wicked and envious heart.'</p>
+
+<p>In a trice, with a tap of her hand, the fairy transported them all to
+the prince's realm, where his subjects were delighted to see him again.
+He married Beauty, and they lived together for a long time in happiness
+the more perfect because it was founded on virtue.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page138" name="page138"></a>[p. 138]</span> THE FRIENDLY FROG</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there was a king who had been at war for a long time
+with his neighbours. After many battles had been fought his capital was
+besieged by the enemy. Fearing for the safety of the queen, the king
+implored her to take refuge in a stronghold to which he himself had
+never been but once. The queen besought him with tears to let her remain
+at his side, and share his fate, and lamented loudly when the king
+placed her in the carriage which was to take her away under escort.</p>
+
+<p>The king promised to slip away whenever possible and pay her a visit,
+seeking thus to comfort her, although he knew that there was small
+chance of the hope being fulfilled. For the castle was a long way off,
+in the midst of a dense forest, and only those with a thorough knowledge
+of the roads could possibly reach it.</p>
+
+<p>The queen was broken-hearted at having to leave her husband exposed to
+the perils of war, and though she made her journey by easy stages, lest
+the fatigue of so much travelling should make her ill, she was downcast
+and miserable when at length she reached the castle. She made excursions
+into the country round about, when sufficiently recovered, but found
+nothing to amuse or distract her. On all sides wide barren spaces met
+her eye, melancholy rather than pleasant to look upon.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page139" name="page139"></a>[p. 139]</span> 'How different from my old home!' she exclaimed, as she
+gloomily surveyed the scene; 'if I stay here long I shall die. To whom
+can I talk in this solitude? To whom can I unburden my grief? What have
+I done that the king should exile me? He must wish me, I suppose, to
+feel the bitterness of separation to the utmost, since he banishes me to
+this hateful castle.'</p>
+
+<p>She grieved long and deeply, and though the king wrote every day to her
+with good news of the way the siege was going, she became more and more
+unhappy. At last she determined that she would go back to him, but
+knowing that her attendants had been forbidden to let her return, except
+under special orders from the king, she kept her intention to herself.
+On the pretext of wishing sometimes to join the hunt, she ordered a
+small chariot, capable of accommodating one person only, to be built for
+her. This she drove herself, and used to keep up with the hounds so
+closely that she would leave the rest of the hunt behind. The chariot
+being in her sole control, this gave her the opportunity to escape
+whenever she liked, and the only obstacle was her lack of familiarity
+with the roads through the forest. She trusted, however, to the favour
+of Providence to bring her safely through it.</p>
+
+<p>She now gave orders for a great hunt to be held, and intimated her wish
+that every one should attend. She herself was to be present in her
+chariot, and she proposed that every follower of the chase should choose
+a different line, and so close every avenue of escape to the quarry. The
+arrangements were carried out according to the queen's plan. Confident
+that she would soon see her husband again, she donned her most becoming
+attire. Her hat <span class="pagenum"><a id="page140" name="page140"></a>[p. 140]</span> was trimmed with feathers of different
+colours, the front of her dress with a number of precious stones. Thus
+adorned, she looked in her beauty (which was of no ordinary stamp) like
+a second Diana.</p>
+
+<p>When the excitement of the chase was at its height she gave rein to her
+horses, urging them on with voice and whip, until their pace quickened
+to a gallop. But then, getting their bits between their teeth, the team
+sped onwards so fast that presently the chariot seemed to be borne upon
+the wind, and to be travelling faster than the eye could follow. Too
+late the poor queen repented of her rashness. 'What possessed me,' she
+cried, 'to think that I could manage such wild and fiery steeds? Alack!
+What will become of me! What would the king do if he knew of my great
+peril? He only sent me away because he loves me dearly, and wished me to
+be in greater safety&mdash;and this is the way I repay his tender care!'</p>
+
+<p>Her piteous cries rang out upon the air, but though she called on Heaven
+and invoked the fairies to her aid, it seemed that all the unseen powers
+had forsaken her.</p>
+
+<p>Over went the chariot. She lacked the strength to jump clear quickly
+enough, and her foot was caught between the wheel and the axle-tree. It
+was only by a miracle that she was not killed, and she lay stretched on
+the ground at the foot of a tree, with her heart scarcely beating and
+her face covered with blood, unable to speak.</p>
+
+<p>For a long time she lay thus. At last she opened her eyes and saw,
+standing beside her, a woman of gigantic stature. The latter wore nought
+but a lion's skin; her arms and legs were bare, and her hair was tied up
+with a dried snake's skin, the head of which dangled over her <span class="pagenum"><a id="page141" name="page141"></a>[p. 141]</span>
+shoulder. In her hand she carried, for walking-stick, a stone club, and
+a quiver full of arrows hung at her side.</p>
+
+<p>This extraordinary apparition convinced the queen that she was dead, and
+indeed it seemed impossible that she could have survived so terrible a
+disaster. 'No wonder death needs resolution,' she murmured, 'since
+sights so terrible await one in the other world.'</p>
+
+<p>The giantess overheard these words, and laughed to find the queen
+thought herself dead.</p>
+
+<p>'Courage,' she said; 'you are still in the land of the living, though
+your lot is not improved. I am the Lion-Witch. My dwelling is near by;
+you must come and live with me.'</p>
+
+<p>'If you will have the kindness, good Lion-Witch, to take me back to my
+castle, the king, who loves me dearly, will not refuse you any ransom
+you demand, though it were the half of his kingdom.'</p>
+
+<p>'I will not do that,' replied the giantess, 'for I have wealth enough
+already. Moreover, I am tired of living alone, and as you have your wits
+about you it is possible you may be able to amuse me.'</p>
+
+<p>With these words she assumed the shape of a lioness, and taking the
+queen on her back, bore her off into the depths of a cavern. There she
+anointed the queen's wounds with an essence which quickly healed them.</p>
+
+<p>But imagine the wonder and despair of the queen to find herself in this
+dismal lair! The approach to it was by ten thousand steps, which led
+downward to the centre of the earth, and the only light was that which
+came from a number of lofty lamps, reflected in a lake of quicksilver.
+This lake teemed with monsters, each of which was hideous <span class="pagenum"><a id="page142" name="page142"></a>[p. 142]</span>
+enough to have terrified one far less timid than the queen. Ravens,
+screech-owls, and many another bird of evil omen filled the air with
+harsh cries. Far off could be espied a mountain, from the slopes of
+which there flowed the tears of all hapless lovers. Its sluggish stream
+was fed by every ill-starred love. The trees had neither leaves nor
+fruit, and the ground was cumbered with briars, nettles, and rank weeds.
+The food, too, was such as might be expected in such a horrid clime. A
+few dried roots, horse-chestnuts, and thorn-apples&mdash;this was all the
+fare with which the Lion-Witch appeased the hunger of those who fell
+into her clutches.</p>
+
+<p>When the queen was well enough to be set to work, the Witch told her she
+might build herself a hut, since she was fated to remain in her company
+for the rest of her life. On hearing this the queen burst into tears.
+'Alas!' she cried, 'what have I done that you should keep me here? If my
+death, which I feel to be nigh, will cause you any pleasure, then I
+implore you to kill me: I dare not hope for any other kindness from you.
+But do not condemn me to the sadness of a life-long separation from my
+husband.'</p>
+
+<p>But the Lion-Witch merely laughed at her, bidding her dry her tears, if
+she would be wise, and do her part to please her. Otherwise, she
+declared, her lot would be the most miserable in the world.</p>
+
+<p>'And what must I do to soften your heart?' replied the queen.</p>
+
+<p>'I have a liking for fly-pasties,' said the Lion-Witch; 'and you must
+contrive to catch flies enough to make me a large and tasty one.'</p>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page143" name="page143"></a>[p. 143]</span>
+<a id="img046" name="img046"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img046.jpg" width="453" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>The approach to it was by ten thousand steps</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page145" name="page145"></a>[p. 145]</span> 'But there are no flies here,' rejoined the queen; 'and even if
+there were there is not enough light to catch them by. Moreover,
+supposing I caught some, I have never in my life made pastry. You are
+therefore giving me orders which I cannot possibly carry out.'</p>
+
+<p>'No matter,' said the pitiless Lion-Witch; 'what I want I will have!'</p>
+
+<p>The queen made no reply, but reflected that, no matter how cruel the
+Witch might be, she had only one life to lose, and in her present plight
+what terror could death hold for her? She did not attempt to look for
+flies, therefore, but sat down beneath a yew tree, and gave way to tears
+and lamentations. 'Alas, dear husband,' she cried, 'how grieved you will
+be when you go to fetch me from the castle, and find me gone! You will
+suppose me to be dead or faithless; how I hope that you will mourn the
+loss of my life, not the loss of my love! Perhaps the remains of my
+chariot will be found in the wood, with all the ornaments I had put on
+to please you: at sight of these you will not doubt any more that I am
+dead. But then, how do I know that you will not bestow on some one else
+the heartfelt love which once belonged to me? At all events I shall be
+spared the sorrow of that knowledge, since I am never to return to the
+world.'</p>
+
+<p>These thoughts would have filled her mind for a long time, but she was
+interrupted by the dismal croaking of a raven overhead. Lifting her
+eyes, she saw in the dim light a large raven on the point of swallowing
+a frog which it held in its beak. 'Though I have no hope of help for
+myself,' she said, 'I will not let this unfortunate frog die, if I can
+save it; though our lots are so different, its sufferings <span class="pagenum"><a id="page146" name="page146"></a>[p. 146]</span> are
+quite as great as mine.' She picked up the first stick which came to
+hand, and made the raven let go its prey. The frog fell to the ground
+and lay for a time half stunned; but as soon as it could think, in its
+froggish way, it began to speak. 'Beautiful queen,' it said, 'you are
+the first friendly soul that I have seen since my curiosity brought me
+here.'</p>
+
+<a id="img047" name="img047"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img047.jpg" width="347" height="350" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>The Friendly Frog</i></p></div>
+
+<p>'By what magic are you endowed with speech, little Frog?' replied the
+queen; 'and what people are they whom you see here? I have seen none at
+all as yet.'</p>
+
+<p>'All the monsters with which the lake is teeming,' replied the little
+Frog, 'were once upon a time in the world. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page147" name="page147"></a>[p. 147]</span> Some sat on
+thrones, some held high positions at Court; there are even some royal
+ladies here who were the cause of strife and bloodshed. It is these
+latter whom you see in the shape of leeches, and they are condemned to
+remain here for a certain time. But of those who come here none ever
+returns to the world better or wiser.'</p>
+
+<p>'I can quite understand,' said the queen, 'that wicked people are not
+improved by merely being thrown together. But how is it that you are
+here, my friendly little Frog?'</p>
+
+<p>'I came here out of curiosity,' she replied. 'I am part fairy, and
+though, in certain directions, my powers are limited, in others they are
+far-reaching. The Lion-Witch would kill me if she knew that I was in her
+domain.'</p>
+
+<p>'Whatever your fairy powers,' said the queen, 'I cannot understand how
+you could have fallen into the raven's clutches and come so near to
+being devoured.'</p>
+
+<p>'That is easily explained,' said the Frog. 'I have nought to fear when
+my little cap of roses is on my head, for that is the source of my
+power. Unluckily I had left it in the marsh when that ugly raven pounced
+upon me, and but for you, Madam, I should not now be here. Since you
+have saved my life, you have only to command me and I will do everything
+in my power to lessen the misfortunes of your lot.'</p>
+
+<p>'Alas, dear Frog,' said the queen, 'the wicked fairy who holds me
+captive desires that I should make her a fly-pasty. But there are no
+flies here, and if there were I could not see to catch them in the dim
+light. I am like, therefore, to get a beating which will kill me.'</p>
+
+<p>'Leave that to me,' said the Frog, 'I will quickly get you some.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page148" name="page148"></a>[p. 148]</span> Thereupon the Frog smeared sugar all over herself, and the same
+was done by more than six thousand of her froggy friends. They then made
+for a place where the fairy had a large store of flies, which she used
+to torment some of her luckless victims. No sooner did the flies smell
+the sugar than they flew to it, and found themselves sticking to the
+frogs. Away, then, went the latter at a gallop, to bring their friendly
+aid to the queen. Never was there such a catching of flies before, nor a
+better pasty than the one the queen made for the fairy. The surprise of
+the Witch was great when the queen handed it to her, for she was baffled
+to think how the flies could have been so cleverly caught.</p>
+
+<p>The queen suffered so much from want of protection against the poisonous
+air that she cut down some cypress branches and began to build herself a
+hut. The Frog kindly offered her services. She summoned round her all
+those who had helped in the fly hunt, and they assisted the queen to
+build as pretty a little place to live in as you could find anywhere in
+the world.</p>
+
+<p>But no sooner had she lain down to rest than the monsters of the lake,
+envious of her repose, gathered round the hut. They set up the most
+hideous noise that had ever been heard, and drove her so nearly mad that
+she got up and fled in fear and trembling from the house. This was just
+what the monsters were after, and a dragon, who had once upon a time
+ruled tyrannously over one of the greatest countries of the world,
+immediately took possession of it.</p>
+
+<p>The poor queen tried to protest against this ill-treatment. But no one
+would listen to her: the monsters laughed and jeered at her, and the
+Lion-Witch said that <span class="pagenum"><a id="page149" name="page149"></a>[p. 149]</span> if she came and dinned lamentations into
+her ears again she would give her a sound thrashing.</p>
+
+<p>The queen was therefore obliged to hold her tongue. She sought out the
+Frog, who was the most sympathetic creature in the world, and they wept
+together; for the moment she put on her cap of roses the Frog became
+able to laugh or weep like anybody else.</p>
+
+<p>'I am so fond of you,' said the Frog to the queen, 'that I will build
+your house again, though every monster in the lake should be filled with
+envy.'</p>
+
+<p>Forthwith she cut some wood, and a little country mansion for the queen
+sprang up so quickly that she was able to sleep in it that very night.
+Nothing that could make for the queen's comfort was forgotten by the
+Frog, and there was even a bed of wild thyme.</p>
+
+<p>When the wicked fairy learnt that the queen was not sleeping on the
+ground, she sent for her and asked:</p>
+
+<p>'What power is it, human or divine, that protects you? This land drinks
+only a rain of burning sulphur, and has never produced so much as a
+sage-leaf: yet they tell me fragrant herbs spring up beneath your feet.'</p>
+
+<p>'I cannot explain it, madam,' said the queen, 'unless it is due to the
+child I am expecting. Perhaps for her a less unhappy fate than mine is
+in store.'</p>
+
+<p>'I have a craving just now,' said the Witch, 'for a posy of rare
+flowers. See if this happiness which you expect will enable you to get
+them. If you do not succeed, such a thrashing as I know well how to give
+is surely in store for you.'</p>
+
+<p>The queen began to weep, for threats like these distressed her, and she
+despaired as she thought of the impossibility <span class="pagenum"><a id="page150" name="page150"></a>[p. 150]</span> of finding
+flowers. But when she returned to her little house, the friendly Frog
+met her.</p>
+
+<p>'How unhappy you look!' she said.</p>
+
+<p>'Alas, dear friend,' said the queen, 'who would not be so? The Witch has
+demanded a posy of the most beautiful flowers. Where am I to find them?
+You see what sort of flowers grow here! Yet my life is forfeit if I do
+not procure them.'</p>
+
+<p>'Dear queen,' said the Frog tenderly, 'we must do our best to extricate
+you from this dilemma. Hereabouts there lives a bat of my
+acquaintance&mdash;a kindly soul. She moves about more quickly than I do, so
+I will give her my cap of roses, and with the aid of this she will be
+able to find you flowers.'</p>
+
+<p>The queen curtseyed low, it being quite impossible to embrace the Frog,
+and the latter went off at once to speak to the bat. In a few hours the
+bat came back with some exquisite flowers tucked under her wings. Off
+went the queen with them to the Witch, who was more astonished than
+ever, being quite unable to understand in what marvellous way the queen
+had been assisted.</p>
+
+<p>The queen never ceased to plot some means of escape, and told the Frog
+of her longings. 'Madam,' said the latter, 'allow me first to take
+counsel with my little cap, and we will make plans according to what it
+advises.' Having placed her cap upon some straw, she burnt in front of
+it a few juniper twigs, some capers, and a couple of green peas. She
+then croaked five times. This completed the rites, and having donned her
+cap again, she began to speak like an oracle.</p>
+
+<p>'Fate, the all-powerful, decrees that you must not <span class="pagenum"><a id="page151" name="page151"></a>[p. 151]</span> leave this
+place. You will have a little princess more beautiful than Venus
+herself. Let nothing fret you; time alone can heal.'</p>
+
+<p>The queen bowed her head and shed tears, but she determined to have
+faith in the friend she had found. 'Whatever happens,' she said, 'do not
+leave me here alone, and befriend me when my little one is born.' The
+Frog promised to remain with her, and did her best to comfort her.</p>
+
+<p>It is now time to return to the king. So long as the enemy kept him
+confined within his capital he could not regularly send messengers to
+the queen. But at length, after many sorties, he forced the enemy to
+raise the siege. This success gave him pleasure not so much on his own
+account, as for the sake of the queen, who could now be brought home in
+safety. He knew nothing of the disaster which had befallen her, for none
+of his retinue had dared to tell him of it. They had found in the forest
+the remains of the chariot, the runaway horses, and the apparel in which
+she had driven forth to find her husband, and being convinced that she
+was killed or devoured by wild beasts, their one idea was to make the
+king believe that she had died suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed as if the king could not survive this mournful news. He tore
+his hair, wept bitterly, and lamented his loss with all manner of
+sorrowful cries and sobs and sighs. For several days he would see
+nobody, and hid himself from view. Later, he returned to his capital and
+entered upon a long period of mourning, to the sincerity of which his
+heartfelt sorrow bore even plainer testimony than his sombre garb of
+woe. His royal neighbours all sent ambassadors <span class="pagenum"><a id="page152" name="page152"></a>[p. 152]</span> with messages
+of condolence, and when the ceremonies proper to these occasions were at
+length over, he proclaimed a period of peace. He released his subjects
+from military service, and devoted himself to giving them every
+assistance in the development of commerce.</p>
+
+<p>Of all this the queen knew nothing. A little princess had been born to
+her in the meantime, and her beauty did not belie the Frog's prediction.
+They gave her the name of Moufette, but the queen had great difficulty
+in persuading the Witch to let her bring up the child, for her ferocity
+was such that she would have liked to eat it.</p>
+
+<p>At the age of six months Moufette was a marvel of beauty, and often, as
+she gazed upon her with mingled tenderness and pity, the queen would
+say:</p>
+
+<p>'Could your father but see you, my poor child, how delighted he would
+be, and how dear you would be to him! But perhaps even now he has begun
+to forget me: doubtless he believes that death has robbed him of us, and
+it may be that another now fills the place I had in his affections.'</p>
+
+<p>Many were the tears she shed over these sad thoughts, and the Frog,
+whose love for her was sincere, was moved one day by the sight of her
+grief to say to her:</p>
+
+<p>'If you like, Madam, I will go and seek your royal husband. It is a long
+journey, and I am but a tardy traveller, but sooner or later I have no
+doubt I shall get there.'</p>
+
+<a id="img048" name="img048"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img048.jpg" width="448" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Could your father but see you, my poor child.</span>"</p></div>
+
+<p>No suggestion could have been more warmly approved, the queen clasping
+her hands, and bidding little Moufette do the same, in token of the
+gratitude she felt towards the good Frog for offering to make the
+expedition. Nor would the king, she declared, be less grateful. 'Of what
+advantage, however,' she went on, 'will it be to him to learn
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page153" name="page153"></a>[p. 153]</span> that I am in this dire abode, since it will be impossible
+for him to rescue me from it?'</p>
+
+<p>'That we must leave to Providence, Madam,' said the Frog; 'we can but
+make those efforts of which we are capable.'</p>
+
+<p>They took farewell of each other, and the queen sent a message to the
+king. This was written with her blood on a piece of rag, for she had
+neither ink nor paper. The good Frog was bringing him news of herself,
+she wrote, and she implored him to give heed to all that she might tell
+him, and to believe everything she had to say.</p>
+
+<p>It took the Frog a year and four days to climb the ten thousand steps
+which led from the gloomy realm in which she had left the queen, up into
+the world. Another year was spent in preparing her equipage, for she was
+too proud to consent to appear at Court like a poor and humble frog from
+the marshes. A little sedan-chair was made for her, large enough to hold
+a couple of eggs comfortably, and this was covered outside with
+tortoise-shell and lined with lizard-skin. From the little green frogs
+that hop about the meadows she selected fifty to act as maids of honour,
+and each of these was mounted on a snail. They had dainty saddles, and
+rode in dashing style with the leg thrown over the saddle-bow. A
+numerous bodyguard of rats, dressed like pages, ran before the
+snails&mdash;in short, nothing so captivating had ever been seen before. To
+crown all, the cap of roses, which never faded but was always in full
+bloom, most admirably became her. Being something of a coquette, too,
+she could not refrain from a touch of rouge and a patch or two; indeed,
+some said she was painted like a great many other ladies of the land,
+but it has been <span class="pagenum"><a id="page154" name="page154"></a>[p. 154]</span> proved by inquiry that this report had its
+origin with her enemies.</p>
+
+<p>The journey lasted seven years, and during all that time the poor queen
+endured unutterable pain and suffering. Had it not been for the solace
+of the beautiful Moufette she must have died a hundred times. Every word
+that the dear little creature uttered filled her with delight; indeed,
+with the exception of the Lion-Witch, there was nobody who was not
+charmed by her.</p>
+
+<p>There came at length a day, after the queen had lived for six years in
+this dismal region, when the Witch told her that she could go hunting
+with her, on condition that she yielded up everything which she killed.
+The queen's joy when she once more saw the sun may be imagined; though
+at first she thought she would be blinded, so unaccustomed to its light
+had she become. So quick and lively was Moufette, even at five or six
+years of age, that she never failed in her aim, and mother and daughter
+together were thus able to appease somewhat the fierce instincts of the
+Witch.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the Frog was travelling over hills and valleys. Day or night,
+she never stopped, and at last she came nigh to the capital, where the
+king was now in residence. To her astonishment signs of festivity met
+her eye at every turn; on all sides there was merriment, song and
+dancing, and the nearer she came to the city the more festive seemed the
+mood of the people. All flocked with amazement to see her rustic
+retinue, and by the time she reached the city the crowd had become so
+large that it was with difficulty she made her way to the palace.</p>
+
+<a id="img049" name="img049"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img049.jpg" width="454" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>The journey lasted seven years</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>At the palace all was splendour, for the king, who had <span class="pagenum"><a id="page157" name="page157"></a>[p. 157]</span> been
+deprived of his wife's society for nine years, had at last yielded to
+the petitions of his subjects, and was about to wed a princess who
+possessed many amiable qualities, though she lacked, admittedly, the
+beauty of his wife.</p>
+
+<p>The good Frog descended from her sedan-chair, and with her attendants in
+her train entered the royal presence. To request an audience was
+unnecessary, for the king and his intended bride and all the princes
+were much too curious to learn why she had come to think of interrupting
+her.</p>
+
+<p>'Sire,' said the Frog, 'I am in doubt whether the news I bring will
+cause you joy or sorrow. I can only conclude, from the marriage which
+you are proposing to celebrate, that you are no longer faithful to your
+queen.'</p>
+
+<p>Tears fell from the king's eyes. 'Her memory is as dear to me as ever,'
+he declared; 'but you must know, good Frog, that monarchs cannot always
+follow their own wishes. For nine years now my subjects have been urging
+me to take a wife, and indeed it is due to them that there should be an
+heir to the throne. Hence my choice of this young princess, whose charms
+are apparent.'</p>
+
+<p>'I warn you not to marry her,' rejoined the Frog; 'the queen is not
+dead, and I am the bearer of a letter from her, writ in her own blood.
+There has been born to you a little daughter, Moufette, who is more
+beautiful than the very heavens.'</p>
+
+<p>The king took the rag on which the short message from the queen was
+written. He kissed it and moistened it with his tears; and declared,
+holding it up for all to see, that he recognised the handwriting of his
+wife. Then he plied the Frog with endless questions, to all of which she
+replied with lively intelligence.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page158" name="page158"></a>[p. 158]</span> The princess who was to have been queen, and the envoys who
+were attending the marriage ceremony, were somewhat out of countenance.
+'Sire,' said one of the most distinguished guests, turning to the king,
+'can you contemplate the breaking of your solemn pledge upon the word of
+a toad like that? This scum of the marshes has the audacity to come and
+lie to the entire Court, just for the gratification of being listened
+to!'</p>
+
+<p>'I would have you know, your Excellency,' replied the Frog, 'that I am
+no scum of the marshes. Since you force me to display my powers&mdash;hither,
+fairies all!'</p>
+
+<p>At these words the frogs, the rats, the snails, and the lizards all
+suddenly ranged themselves behind the Frog. But in place of their
+familiar natural forms, they appeared now as tall, majestic figures,
+handsome of mien, and with eyes that outshone the stars. Each wore a
+crown of jewels on his head, while over his shoulders hung a royal
+mantle of velvet, lined with ermine, the train of which was borne by
+dwarfs. Simultaneously the sound of trumpets, drums, and hautboys filled
+the air with martial melody, and all the fairies began to dance a
+ballet, with step so light that the least spring lifted them to the
+vaulted ceiling of the chamber.</p>
+
+<p>The astonishment of the king and his future bride was in no way
+diminished when the fairy dancers suddenly changed before their eyes
+into flowers&mdash;jasmine, jonquils, violets, roses, and carnations&mdash;which
+carried on the dance just as though they were possessed of legs and
+feet. It was as though a flower-bed had come to life, every movement of
+which gave pleasure alike to eye and nostril. A moment later the flowers
+vanished, and in their place were fountains of leaping water that fell
+in a cascade and formed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page159" name="page159"></a>[p. 159]</span> a lake beneath the castle walls. On
+the surface of the lake were little boats, painted and gilt, so pretty
+and dainty that the princess challenged the ambassadors to a voyage.
+None hesitated to do so, for they thought it was all a gay pastime, and
+a merry prelude to the marriage festivities. But no sooner had they
+embarked than boats, fountains, and lake vanished, and the frogs were
+frogs once more.</p>
+
+<p>'Sire,' said the Frog, when the king asked what had become of the
+princess, 'your wife alone is your queen. Were my affection for her less
+than it is, I should not interfere; but she deserves so well, and your
+daughter Moufette is so charming, that you ought not to lose one moment
+in setting out to their rescue.'</p>
+
+<p>'I do assure you, Madam Frog,' replied the king, 'that if I could
+believe my wife to be alive, I would shrink from nothing in the world
+for sight of her again.'</p>
+
+<p>'Surely,' said the Frog, 'after the marvels I have shown you, there
+ought not to be doubt in your mind of the truth of what I say. Leave
+your realm in the hands of those whom you can trust, and set forth
+without delay. Take this ring&mdash;it will provide you with the means of
+seeing the queen, and of speaking with the Lion-Witch, notwithstanding
+that she is the most formidable creature in the world.'</p>
+
+<p>The king refused to let any one accompany him, and after bestowing
+handsome gifts upon the Frog, he set forth. 'Do not lose heart,' she
+said to him; 'you will encounter terrible difficulties, but I am
+convinced that your desires will meet with success.' He plucked up
+courage at these words, and started upon the quest of his dear wife,
+though he had only the ring to guide him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page160" name="page160"></a>[p. 160]</span> Now Moufette's beauty became more and more perfect as she grew
+older, and all the monsters of the lake of quicksilver were enamoured of
+her. Hideous and terrifying to behold, they came and lay at her feet.
+Although Moufette had seen them ever since she was born, her lovely eyes
+could never grow accustomed to them, and she would run away and hide in
+her mother's arms. 'Shall we remain here long?' she would ask; 'are we
+never to escape from misery?'</p>
+
+<p>The queen would answer hopefully, so as to keep up the spirits of the
+child, but in her heart hope had died. The absence of the Frog and the
+lack of any news from her, together with the long time that had passed
+since she had heard anything of the king, filled her with grief and
+despair.</p>
+
+<p>By now it had become a regular thing for them to go hunting with the
+Lion-Witch. The latter liked good things, and enjoyed the game which
+they killed for her. The head or the feet of the quarry was all the
+share they got, but there was compensation in being allowed to look
+again upon the daylight. The Witch would take the shape of a lioness,
+and the queen and her daughter would seat themselves on her back. In
+this fashion they ranged the forests a-hunting.</p>
+
+<p>One day, when the king was resting in a forest to which his ring had
+guided him, he saw them shoot by like an arrow from the bow. They did
+not perceive him, and when he tried to follow them he lost sight of them
+completely. The queen was still as beautiful as of old, despite all that
+she had suffered, and she seemed to her husband more attractive than
+ever, so that he longed to have her with him again. He felt certain that
+the young princess <span class="pagenum"><a id="page161" name="page161"></a>[p. 161]</span> with her was his dear little Moufette, and
+he resolved to face death a thousand times rather than abandon his
+intention of rescuing her.</p>
+
+<p>With the assistance of his ring he penetrated to the gloomy region in
+which the queen had been for so many years. His astonishment was great
+to find himself descending to the centre of the earth, but with every
+new thing that met his eyes his amazement grew greater.</p>
+
+<p>The Lion-Witch, from whom nothing was hid, knew well the day and hour of
+his destined arrival. Much did she wish that the powers in league with
+her could have ordered things otherwise, but she resolved to pit her
+strength against his to the full.</p>
+
+<p>She built a palace of crystal which floated in the midst of the lake of
+quicksilver, rising and falling on its waves. Therein she imprisoned the
+queen and her daughter, and assembling the monsters, who were all
+admirers of Moufette, she gave them this warning:</p>
+
+<p>'You will lose this beautiful princess if you do not help me to keep her
+from a gallant who has come to bear her away.'</p>
+
+<p>The monsters vowed that they would do everything in their power, and
+forthwith they surrounded the palace of crystal. The less heavy
+stationed themselves upon the roofs and walls, others mounted guard at
+the doors, while the remainder filled the lake.</p>
+
+<p>Following the dictates of his faithful ring, the king went first to the
+Witch's cavern. She was waiting for him in the form of a lioness, and
+the moment he appeared she sprang upon him. But she was not prepared for
+his valiant swordsmanship, and as she put forth a paw to fell him to
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page162" name="page162"></a>[p. 162]</span> the ground, he cut it off at the elbow-joint. She yelped
+loudly and fell over, whereupon he went up to her and set his foot upon
+her throat, swearing that he would kill her. Notwithstanding her
+uncontrollable rage, and the fact that she had nothing to fear from
+wounds, she felt cowed by him.</p>
+
+<p>'What do you seek to do to me?' she asked; 'what do you want of me?'</p>
+
+<p>'I intend to punish you,' replied the king with dignity, 'for having
+carried away my wife. Deliver her up to me, or I will strangle you on
+the spot.'</p>
+
+<p>'Turn your eyes to the lake,' she answered, 'and see if it lies in my
+power to do so.'</p>
+
+<p>The king followed the direction she indicated, and saw the queen and her
+daughter in the palace of crystal, where it floated like a boat without
+oars or rudder on the lake of quicksilver. He was like to die of mingled
+joy and sorrow. He shouted to them at the top of his voice, and they
+heard him. But how was he to reach them?</p>
+
+<p>While he pondered a plan for the accomplishment of this, the Lion-Witch
+vanished. He ran round and round the lake, but no sooner did the palace
+draw near enough, at one point or another, to let him make a spring for
+it, than it suddenly receded with menacing speed. As often as his hopes
+were raised they were dashed to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Fearing that he would presently tire, the queen cried to him that he
+must not lose courage, for the Lion-Witch sought to wear him down, but
+that true love could brave all obstacles. She stretched out imploring
+hands, and so did Moufette. At sight of this the king felt his courage
+renewed within him. Lifting his voice, he declared that he <span class="pagenum"><a id="page163" name="page163"></a>[p. 163]</span>
+would rather live the rest of his life in this dismal region than go
+away without them.</p>
+
+<p>Patience he certainly needed, for no monarch in the world ever spent
+such a miserable time. There was only the ground, cumbered with briars
+and thorns, for bed, and for food he had only wild fruit more bitter
+than gall. In addition, he was under the perpetual necessity of
+defending himself from the monsters of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>Three years went by in this fashion, and the king could not pretend that
+he had gained the least advantage. He was almost in despair, and many a
+time was tempted to cast himself into the lake. He would have done so
+without hesitation had there been any hope that thereby the sufferings
+of the queen and the princess could be alleviated.</p>
+
+<p>One day as he was running, after his custom, from one side of the lake
+to the other, he was hailed by one of the ugliest of the dragons. 'Swear
+by your crown and sceptre, by your kingly robe, by your wife and child,'
+said the monster, 'to give me a certain tit-bit to eat for which I have
+a fancy, whenever I shall ask for it, and I will take you on my back:
+none of the monsters in this lake which are guarding the palace will
+prevent us from carrying away the queen and Princess Moufette.'</p>
+
+<p>'Best of dragons!' cried the king; 'I swear to you, and to all of dragon
+blood, that you shall have your fill of whatsoever you desire, and I
+will be for ever your devoted servant.'</p>
+
+<p>'Promise nothing which you do not mean to fulfil,' replied the dragon;
+'for otherwise life-long misfortunes may overwhelm you.'</p>
+
+<p>The king repeated his assurances, for he was dying of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page164" name="page164"></a>[p. 164]</span>
+impatience to regain his beloved queen, and mounted the dragon just as
+though he were the most dashing of steeds. But now the other monsters
+rushed to bar the way. The combat was joined, and nought was audible
+save the hissing of the serpents, nought visible save the brimstone,
+fire and sulphur, which were belched forth in every direction.</p>
+
+<p>The king reached the palace at last, but there fresh efforts were
+required of him, for the entrances were defended by bats and owls and
+ravens. But even the boldest of these was torn to pieces by the dragon,
+who attacked them tooth and nail. The queen, too, who was a spectator of
+this savage fight, kicked down chunks of the wall, and armed with these
+helped her dear husband in the fray. Victory at length rested with them,
+and as they flew to one another's arms, the enchantment was brought to
+an end by a thunderbolt which plunged into the lake and dried it up.</p>
+
+<p>The friendly dragon vanished, along with all the other monsters, and the
+king found himself (by what means he had not the least idea) home again
+in his own city, and seated, with his queen and Moufette beside him, in
+a splendid dining-hall before a table laid with the richest fare. Never
+before was there such amazement and delight as theirs. The populace came
+running for a sight of the queen and princess, and to add to the wonder
+of it all, the latter was seen to be attired in apparel of such
+magnificence that the gaze was almost dazzled by her jewels.</p>
+
+<p>You can easily imagine what festivities now took place at the palace.
+There were masquerades, and tournaments with tilting at the ring which
+attracted the highest princes from all over the world; even more were
+these drawn by the bright eyes of Moufette.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page165" name="page165"></a>[p. 165]</span> Amongst the handsomest and most accomplished in skill-at-arms,
+there was none anywhere who could outshine Prince Moufy. He won the
+applause and admiration of all, and Moufette, who had hitherto known
+only dragons and serpents, was not backward in according him her share
+of praise. Prince Moufy was deeply in love with her, and not a day
+passed but he showed her some fresh attention in the hope of gaining her
+favour. In due course he offered himself as a suitor, informing the king
+and queen that his realm was of a richness and extent that might well
+claim their favourable consideration.</p>
+
+<p>The king replied that Moufette should make her own choice of husband,
+for his only wish was to please her and make her happy. With this answer
+the prince was well satisfied, for he was already aware that the
+princess was not indifferent to him. He offered her his hand, and she
+declared that if he were not to be her husband, then no other man should
+be. Prince Moufy threw himself in rapture at her feet, and exacted,
+lover-like, a promise that she would keep her word with him.</p>
+
+<p>The prince and princess were betrothed, and Prince Moufy then returned
+to his own realm, in order to make preparations for the marriage.
+Moufette wept much at his going, for she was oppressed by an
+inexplicable presentiment of evil. The prince likewise was much
+downcast, and the queen, noticing this, gave him a portrait of her
+daughter with an injunction to curtail the splendour of his preparations
+rather than allow his return to be delayed. The prince was nothing loth
+to obey her behest, and promised to adopt a course which so well
+consulted his own happiness.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page166" name="page166"></a>[p. 166]</span> The princess amused herself with music during his absence, for
+in a few months she had learned to play exceedingly well.</p>
+
+<p>One day, when she was in the queen's apartment, the king rushed in.
+Tears were streaming down his face as he took his daughter in his arms
+and cried aloud: 'Alas, my child! O wretched father! O miserable king!'
+Sobs choked his utterance, and he could say no more.</p>
+
+<p>Greatly alarmed, the queen and princess asked him what had happened, and
+at last he got out that there had just arrived an enormously tall giant,
+who professed to be an envoy of the dragon of the lake; and that in
+pursuance of the promise which the king had given in exchange for
+assistance in fighting the monsters, the dragon demanded that he should
+give up the princess, as he desired to make her into a pie for dinner.
+The king added that he had bound himself by solemn oaths to give the
+dragon what he asked&mdash;and in the days of which we are telling no one
+ever broke his word.</p>
+
+<p>The queen received this dire news with piercing shrieks, and clasped her
+child to her bosom. 'My life shall be forfeit,' she cried, 'ere my
+daughter is delivered up to this monster. Let him rather take our
+kingdom and all that we have. Unnatural father! Is it possible you can
+consent to such cruelty? What! My child to be made into a pie! The bare
+notion is intolerable! Send this grim envoy to me; it may be the
+spectacle of my anguish will soften his heart.'</p>
+
+<p>The king said nothing, but went in quest of the giant. He brought him to
+the queen, who flung herself at his feet with her daughter. She begged
+him to have mercy, and to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page167" name="page167"></a>[p. 167]</span> persuade the dragon to take all that
+they possessed, but to spare Moufette's life. The giant replied,
+however, that the matter did not rest with him. The dragon, he said, was
+so obstinate, and so addicted to the pleasures of the table, that no
+power on earth would restrain him from eating what he had a mind to make
+a meal of. Furthermore, he counselled them, as a friend, to yield with a
+good grace lest greater ills should be in store. At these words the
+queen fainted, and the princess would have been in similar case, if she
+had not been obliged to go to the assistance of her mother.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner was the dreadful news known throughout the palace than it
+spread all over the city. On all sides there was weeping and wailing,
+for Moufette was greatly beloved.</p>
+
+<p>The king could not bring himself to give her up to the giant, and the
+latter, after waiting several days, grew restive and began to utter
+terrible threats. But the king and queen, taking counsel together, were
+agreed. 'What is there worse that could happen to us?' they said; 'if
+the dragon of the lake were to come and eat us all up, we could not
+suffer more, for if Moufette is put into a pie that will be the end of
+us.'</p>
+
+<p>Presently the giant informed them that he had received a message from
+the dragon, to the effect that if the princess would agree to marry one
+of his nephews, he would spare her life. This nephew was not only young
+and handsome, but a prince to boot; and there was no doubt of her being
+able to live very happily with him.</p>
+
+<p>This proposal somewhat assuaged their grief, but when the queen
+mentioned it to the princess, she found her more <span class="pagenum"><a id="page168" name="page168"></a>[p. 168]</span> ready to face
+death than entertain this marriage. 'I cannot break faith just to save
+my life,' said Moufette; 'you promised me to Prince Moufy, and I will
+marry none else. Let me perish, for my death will enable you to live in
+peace.' The king in his turn tried, with many endearments, to persuade
+her, but she could not be moved. Finally, therefore, it was arranged
+that she should be conducted to a mountain-top, there to await the
+dragon.</p>
+
+<p>Everything was made ready for the great sacrificial rite, and nothing so
+mournful had ever been seen before. Black garments and pale, distraught
+faces were encountered at every turn. Four hundred maidens of the
+noblest birth, clad in long white robes and wearing crowns of cypress,
+accompanied the princess. The latter was borne in an open litter of
+black velvet, that all men might behold the wondrous miracle of her
+beauty. Her tresses, tied with crape, hung over her shoulders, and she
+wore a crown of jasmine and marigolds. The only thing that seemed to
+affect her was the grief of the king and queen, who walked behind her,
+overwhelmed with the burden of their sorrow. Beside the litter strode
+the giant, armed from top to toe, and looking hungrily at the princess,
+as though already he savoured his share of the dish she was to make. The
+air was filled with sighs and sobs, and the tears of the spectators made
+rivulets along the road.</p>
+
+<p>'O Frog, dear Frog,' cried the queen; 'you have indeed forsaken me! Why
+give me help in that dismal place and refuse it to me here? Had I but
+died then, I should not now be mourning the end of all my hopes, and I
+should have been spared the agony of waiting to see my darling Moufette
+devoured.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page169" name="page169"></a>[p. 169]</span> Slowly the procession made its way to the summit of the fatal
+mountain. On arrival there the cries and lamentations broke out with
+renewed force, and a more pitiful noise was never heard before. The
+giant then directed that all farewells must be said, and a general
+withdrawal made, and his order was obeyed. Folks in those days were
+docile and obedient, and never thought of combating ill-fortune.</p>
+
+<p>The king and queen, with all the Court, now climbed another hill-top,
+from which they could obtain a view of all that happened to the
+princess. They had not long to wait, for they quickly espied a dragon,
+half a league long, sailing through the sky. He flew laboriously, for
+his bulk was so great that even six large wings could hardly support it.
+His body was covered all over with immense blue scales and tongues of
+poison flame, his twisted tail had fifty coils and another half coil
+beyond that, while his claws were each as big as a windmill. His jaws
+were agape, and inside could be seen three rows of teeth as long as an
+elephant's tusks.</p>
+
+<p>Now while the dragon was slowly wending his way to the mountain-top, the
+good and faithful Frog, mounted on a hawk's back, was flying at full
+speed to Prince Moufy. She was wearing her cap of roses, and though he
+was locked in his privy chamber she needed no key to enter.</p>
+
+<p>'Hapless lover!' she cried; 'what are you doing here? This very moment,
+while you sit dreaming about her beauty, Moufette is in direst peril!
+See, here is a rose-leaf; I have but to blow upon it and it will become
+a mettlesome steed.'</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke there suddenly appeared a green horse. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page170" name="page170"></a>[p. 170]</span> It had
+twelve hoofs and three heads, and from the latter it could spit forth
+fire, bomb-shells, and cannon-balls respectively. The Frog then gave the
+prince a sword, eight yards long and no heavier than a feather, and a
+garment fashioned out of a single diamond. This he slipped on like a
+coat, and though it was hard as rock it was so pliant that his movements
+were in no way impeded.</p>
+
+<p>'Now fly to the rescue of your love,' said the Frog; 'the green horse
+will carry you to her. Do not omit to let her know, when you have
+delivered her, of what my part has been.'</p>
+
+<p>'Great-hearted fairy!' cried the prince, 'this is no moment to return
+you thanks, but from henceforth I am your faithful servant.'</p>
+
+<p>Off went the horse with the three heads, galloping on its twelve hoofs
+three times as fast, and more, than the best of ordinary steeds; and in
+a very short time the prince had reached the mountain, where he found
+his dear princess all alone.</p>
+
+<p>As the dragon slowly drew near, the green horse began to throw out fire,
+bomb-shells, and cannon-balls, which greatly disconcerted the monster.
+Twenty balls lodged in his throat, his scaly armour was dinted, and the
+bomb-shells put out one of his eyes. This enraged him, and he tried to
+hurl himself upon the prince. But the latter's long sword was so finely
+tempered that he could do what he liked with it, and now he plunged it
+in up to the hilt, now cut with it as though it had been a whip. The
+prince would have suffered, however, from the dragon's claws had it not
+been for his diamond coat, which was impenetrable.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page171" name="page171"></a>[p. 171]</span> Moufette had recognised her lover from afar, for the gleaming
+diamond which covered him was transparent; and she was like to die of
+terror at the risk he ran. The king and queen, however, felt hope revive
+within them. They had little thought to see arriving so opportunely a
+horse with three heads and twelve hoofs that breathed forth fire and
+flame, nor yet a prince, in diamond mail, and armed with so redoubtable
+a sword, who performed such prodigies of valour. The king put his hat on
+the end of his stick, the queen tied a handkerchief to hers, and with
+all the Court following suit, there was no lack of signals of
+encouragement to the prince. Not that such were necessary, for his own
+stout heart and the peril in which he saw Moufette were enough to keep
+his courage up.</p>
+
+<p>Heavens, how he fought! Barbs, talons, horns, wings, and scales fell
+from the dragon till the ground was covered with them, and the soil was
+dyed blue and green with the mingled blood of dragon and horse. Five
+times the prince was unhorsed, but each time he picked himself up and
+composedly mounted his steed again. Then would follow such cannonades,
+bombardments, and flame-throwing as had never been seen or heard of
+before.</p>
+
+<p>At length, its strength exhausted, the dragon fell, and the prince
+delivered a finishing stroke. None could believe their eyes when from
+the gaping wound so made there stepped forth a handsome and elegant
+prince, clad in a coat of blue and gold velvet, embroidered with pearls,
+and wearing on his head a little Grecian helmet with a crest of white
+feathers. With outstretched hands this new-comer ran to Prince Moufy and
+embraced him.</p>
+
+<p>'How can I ever repay you, my gallant deliverer?' he <span class="pagenum"><a id="page172" name="page172"></a>[p. 172]</span> cried.
+'Never was monarch confined in a more dreadful prison than the one from
+which you have freed me. It is sixteen years since the Lion-Witch
+condemned me to it, and I have languished there ever since. Moreover,
+such is her power that she would have obliged me, against my will, to
+devour that sweet princess. I beg you to let me pay my respects to her,
+and explain my hapless plight!'</p>
+
+<p>Astonished and delighted by the remarkable way in which his adventure
+had ended, Prince Moufy lavished courtesies upon the newly-discovered
+prince. Together they went to Moufette, who rendered thanks a thousand
+times to Providence for her unexpected happiness. Already the king and
+queen and all the Court had joined her, and everybody spoke at once, and
+nobody listened to anybody, while nearly as many tears were shed for joy
+as a little time ago had been shed for grief. And finally, to set the
+crown on their rejoicing, the good Frog was espied flying through the
+air on her hawk. The latter had little golden bells upon its feet, and
+when the faint tinkling of these caused every one to look up, there was
+the Frog, beautiful as the dawn, with her cap of roses shining like the
+sun.</p>
+
+<p>The queen ran to her and took her by one of her little paws. At that
+instant the wise Frog was transformed into a majestic royal lady of
+gracious mien. 'I come,' she cried, 'to crown the faithful Moufette, who
+preferred to face death rather than break her word to Prince Moufy.'
+With these words she placed two myrtle wreaths upon the lovers' heads;
+and at a signal of three taps from her wand the dragon's bones rose up
+and formed a triumphal arch to commemorate the auspicious occasion.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page173" name="page173"></a>[p. 173]</span> Back to the city went all the company, singing wedding songs as
+gladly as they had previously with sorrow bewailed the sacrifice of the
+princess. On the morrow the marriage took place, and with what
+festivities it was solemnised may be left to the imagination.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page174" name="page174"></a>[p. 174]</span> PRINCESS ROSETTE</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time there lived a king and queen who had two handsome boys,
+and so well looked after were the latter that they grew apace, like the
+daylight.</p>
+
+<p>The queen never had a child without summoning the fairies to be present
+at the birth, and she always begged them to tell what its future was to
+be. When in due course she had a beautiful little daughter&mdash;so pretty
+that one could not set eyes on her without loving her&mdash;all the fairies
+came to visit her, and were hospitably entertained. As they were making
+ready to go, the queen said to them:</p>
+
+<p>'Do not forget your friendly custom, but tell me what fortune awaits
+Rosette.' Such was the name which had been given to the little princess.</p>
+
+<p>The fairies replied that they had left their magic books at home, but
+would come and see her some other time.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah,' said the queen, 'that bodes ill. You are anxious not to distress
+me by an unhappy prophecy. But tell me all, I implore you, and hide
+nothing from me.'</p>
+
+<p>The fairies did their utmost to excuse themselves. But the queen became
+more and more eager to learn everything, and at last the chief of them
+made a declaration.</p>
+
+<p>'We fear, Madam,' she said, 'that Rosette will bring disaster on her
+brothers, and that in some fashion she will be the cause of their death.
+This much and no more can <span class="pagenum"><a id="page175" name="page175"></a>[p. 175]</span> we foretell of the pretty child, and
+we are grieved that we should have no better news to give you.'</p>
+
+<p>Then the fairies went away, and the queen was left grieving.</p>
+
+<p>So deep was her grief that the king saw it in her face, and asked what
+ailed her. She had gone too near the fire, she told him, and had burnt
+all the flax that was on her distaff.</p>
+
+<p>'Is that all?' said the king, and going up to his storeroom he brought
+her more flax than she could have spun in a hundred years.</p>
+
+<p>But the queen continued sad, and again the king asked what ailed her.
+She declared that in walking by the river she had let her green satin
+slipper fall into the water.</p>
+
+<p>'Is that all?' said the king, and summoning all the shoemakers in the
+kingdom he brought her ten thousand green satin slippers.</p>
+
+<p>Still she grieved, and once more he asked what ailed her. She told him
+that in eating with rather too vigorous an appetite she had swallowed
+her wedding-ring, which had been on her finger. The king knew at once
+that she was not telling the truth, for he had put away this ring
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>'My dear wife,' he said, 'you lie; I put away your ring in my
+purse&mdash;here it is!'</p>
+
+<p>She was not a little confused at being caught telling a lie (for there
+is nothing in the world so ugly), and she saw that the king was
+displeased. She told him, therefore, what the fairies had prophesied of
+little Rosette, and implored him to say if he could think of any good
+remedy.</p>
+
+<p>The king was plunged in the deepest melancholy, so <span class="pagenum"><a id="page176" name="page176"></a>[p. 176]</span> much so
+that he remarked on one occasion to the queen: 'I see no other means of
+saving our two sons but to bring about the death of our little child
+while she is still in long clothes.' But the queen exclaimed that she
+would rather suffer death herself. She would never consent, she
+declared, to such a cruel course, and he must think of something else.</p>
+
+<p>The royal pair were at their wits' end when the queen was told that in a
+forest near the city there lived an aged hermit. His habitation was a
+hollow tree, and folks were wont to seek his advice upon all manner of
+things. 'I too must go there,' said the queen; 'the fairies have warned
+me of the evil, but they have forgotten to tell me of the remedy.'</p>
+
+<p>She rose betimes and mounted a dainty little white mule that was shod
+with gold, and took with her two of her ladies, each riding a bonny
+horse. When they had entered the wood they dismounted, as a sign of
+deference, and presented themselves at the tree where the hermit lived.
+The latter had an aversion from the sight of women, but on recognising
+the queen he addressed her.</p>
+
+<p>'You are welcome,' he said; 'what do you want of me?'</p>
+
+<p>She told him what the fairies had said of Rosette, and begged for
+advice. His reply was that the princess must be placed in a tower and
+never be allowed to leave it. The queen tendered her thanks, and having
+bestowed liberal alms upon him, returned to tell everything to the king.</p>
+
+<p>When the king had heard her news he gave orders at once for a great
+tower to be built. In this the princess was shut up, and to keep her
+amused the king and queen and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page177" name="page177"></a>[p. 177]</span> her two brothers went every day
+to see her. The elder boy was known as the Big Prince, and the younger
+as the Little Prince. Both were passionately attached to their sister,
+for she had such beauty and charm as had never been seen before. For the
+lightest of looks from her many would have paid a hundred gold pieces
+and more.</p>
+
+<p>When the princess was fifteen years old the Big Prince spoke of her to
+his father. 'My sister is old enough now to marry, Sire,' he said;
+'shall we not soon be celebrating her wedding?' The Little Prince said
+the same thing to his mother. But their royal parents turned the
+conversation and made no answer on the subject of the marriage.</p>
+
+<p>One day the king and queen were stricken by a grievous malady, and died
+almost within twenty-four hours. Throughout the realm there was
+mourning; every one wore black, and on all sides the tolling of bells
+was heard. Rosette was grieved beyond consolation by the death of her
+dear mother.</p>
+
+<p>But when the royal dead had been interred, the noblemen of the realm set
+the Big Prince upon a throne of gold and diamonds, robed him in purple
+velvet embroidered with suns and moons, and placed a splendid crown upon
+his head. Then all the Court cried aloud three times: 'Long live the
+King!' and there followed universal festivities and rejoicings.</p>
+
+<p>'Now that we are in power,' said the king and his brother as soon as
+they could converse in private, 'we must release our sister from the
+tower in which she has languished so long.' They had only to cross the
+garden to reach the tower, which was built in a corner. It had been
+reared as high as possible, for it had been the intention of the late
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page178" name="page178"></a>[p. 178]</span> king and queen that their daughter should remain in it for
+life.</p>
+
+<p>Rosette was busy with embroidery when her brothers entered, but on
+catching sight of them she rose and left the frame at which she was
+working. Taking the king's hand, she said: 'Good-morrow, Sire; you are
+king to-day, and I am your humble servant. I implore you to release me
+from the tower in which I have been languishing so long.' And with these
+words she burst into tears.</p>
+
+<p>The king embraced her and told her not to weep, for he had come to take
+her from the tower and establish her in a beautiful castle. The prince,
+who had brought a pocketful of sweets to give to Rosette, added his
+word. 'Come,' he said, 'let us leave this hateful tower, and do not be
+unhappy any longer. Very soon the king will find a husband for you.'</p>
+
+<p>When Rosette saw the beautiful garden, with all its flowers and fruit
+and its many fountains, she was overcome with amazement and could not
+speak a word. She had never before seen anything of the kind. She looked
+about her on all sides, and then ran hither and thither, picking the
+fruit from the trees and the flowers from the beds, while her little dog
+Frillikin (who was as green as a parrot, had only one ear, and could
+dance deliciously) capered in front of her, yapping his loudest, and
+amusing everybody present by his absurd gambols.</p>
+
+<a id="img050" name="img050"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img050.jpg" width="452" height="600" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>Princess Rosette</i></p></div>
+
+<p>Presently Frillikin dashed into a little copse, and the princess
+followed. Never was any one so struck with wonder as she, to behold
+there a great peacock with tail outspread. So beautiful, so exquisitely
+and perfectly beautiful did it seem to her that she could not take away
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page181" name="page181"></a>[p. 181]</span> her eyes. When the king and the prince joined her they asked
+what it was that had so taken her fancy. She pointed to the peacock and
+asked what it was, to which they replied that it was a bird that was
+sometimes served at table.</p>
+
+<p>'What?' she cried; 'a bird so beautiful as that to be killed and eaten?
+I tell you, I will marry no one but the King of the Peacocks, and when I
+am queen no one shall ever eat such a dish again!'</p>
+
+<p>No words can express the astonishment of the king. 'My dear sister,' he
+said, 'where do you suppose that we are to find the King of the
+Peacocks?'</p>
+
+<p>'Wherever you please, Sire,' was the answer; 'but I will marry none but
+him!'</p>
+
+<p>After having announced this decision she allowed her brothers to escort
+her to their castle. But so great was the fancy she had taken to the
+peacock that she insisted on its being brought and placed in her
+apartment.</p>
+
+<p>All the ladies of the Court, by whom Rosette had never yet been seen,
+now hastened to pay their dutiful respects. Gifts of every kind were
+proffered to her&mdash;sweetmeats and sugar, gay ribbons, and dresses of
+cloth-of-gold, dolls, slippers richly embroidered, with many pearls and
+diamonds. All did their best to show her attention, and she displayed
+such charming manners, kissing hands and curtseying so graciously when
+any gift was offered to her, that not a gentleman or lady of the Court
+but left her presence loud in her praise.</p>
+
+<p>While the princess was being thus entertained, the king and the prince
+were taking counsel as to how they could find the King of the Peacocks,
+supposing such a person did really exist. In pursuit of the plan which
+they formed a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page182" name="page182"></a>[p. 182]</span> portrait was painted of the Princess Rosette,
+and so cunningly wrought was this picture that only speech seemed
+wanting to make it live. Then they said to their sister:</p>
+
+<p>'Since you will marry none but the King of the Peacocks, we are setting
+forth together in quest of him through the wide world. If we find him we
+shall be well rewarded. Wait for our return, and take care of our
+kingdom while we are away.'</p>
+
+<p>Rosette thanked them for the trouble they were taking, and promised to
+govern the kingdom well. She declared that while they were away her only
+pleasures would be to admire the beautiful peacock and make Frillikin
+dance. Their adieux were said with many tears.</p>
+
+<p>Behold, then, the royal pair upon their travels, asking of all whom they
+met: 'Do you know the King of the Peacocks?' The reply from all was 'No,
+we do not.' Then the travellers would pass on and go further, journeying
+in this way so far, far away that no one had ever been so far before.</p>
+
+<p>At last they reached the kingdom of the Cockchafers, and the latter in
+their myriads made so loud a buzzing that the king thought he would go
+deaf. He asked one who seemed more intelligent than the rest if he knew
+whereabouts the King of the Peacocks was to be found.</p>
+
+<p>'Sire,' said the cockchafer, 'his kingdom is thirty thousand leagues
+away; you have taken the longest road to get there.'</p>
+
+<p>'How do you know that?' asked the king.</p>
+
+<p>'Because we know you well,' replied the cockchafer; 'every year we spend
+two or three months in your garden!'</p>
+
+<p>The king and his brother embraced the cockchafer <span class="pagenum"><a id="page183" name="page183"></a>[p. 183]</span> warmly, and
+struck up a great friendship. Arm in arm they all went off to dinner,
+over which the visitors expressed their astonishment at the remarkable
+features of this country, where the smallest leaf from a tree was worth
+a gold piece. Presently they set off for their destination, and as they
+now knew the road they were not long in reaching it. They observed that
+all the trees were full of peacocks; indeed the place held so many of
+them that their screaming as they talked could be heard two leagues
+away.</p>
+
+<p>'If the King of the Peacocks is himself a peacock,' said the king to his
+brother, 'how can our sister dream of marrying him? It would be folly to
+sanction it. A nice set of relatives she would present to us&mdash;a lot of
+little peacocks for nephews!' The prince was equally uneasy in his mind.
+'It was an unfortunate notion to come into her head,' he declared; 'I
+cannot imagine how she ever came to think that such a person as the King
+of the Peacocks existed.'</p>
+
+<p>When they reached the city they found it peopled with men and women, but
+the latter all wore garments fashioned out of peacocks' feathers; and
+from the profusion in which these objects were everywhere to be seen it
+was plain that they were regarded with an intense admiration. They
+encountered the King of the Peacocks, who was out for a drive in a
+splendid little chariot of gold, studded with diamonds, drawn by a dozen
+galloping peacocks.</p>
+
+<p>The King of the Peacocks, fair of complexion, with a crown of peacocks'
+feathers surmounting his long and curly yellow locks, was so extremely
+handsome that the king and prince were delighted with his appearance. He
+guessed from their clothes, so different from those of the natives,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page184" name="page184"></a>[p. 184]</span> that they were strangers; but to make sure he caused his
+carriage to stop and summoned them to him.</p>
+
+<p>The king and the prince advanced to meet him, and bowed low. 'We have
+come from far away, Sire,' they said, 'in order to show you a portrait.'
+With these words they drew from the pack which they carried the
+magnificent portrait of Rosette.</p>
+
+<p>'I do not believe,' said the King of the Peacocks, when he had looked
+long and well at it, 'that the world holds so beautiful a maiden.'</p>
+
+<p>'She is a hundred times more beautiful than that,' said the king.</p>
+
+<p>'You are joking,' said the King of the Peacocks.</p>
+
+<p>'Sire,' said the prince, 'this is my brother, who is a monarch like
+yourself: men call him King. For myself, I am known as Prince. This
+portrait shows our sister, the Princess Rosette. We are here to ask if
+you are willing to marry her. She has good sense as well as good looks,
+and we will give her for dowry a bushel of golden crowns.'</p>
+
+<p>'Why, certainly,' said the King of the Peacocks, 'I will marry her with
+all my heart. I promise she shall want for nothing, and I will love her
+truly. But I would have you know that she must be as beautiful as her
+picture, and that if she falls short of it by the least little bit, I
+will put you to death.'</p>
+
+<p>'We accept the conditions,' said Rosette's two brothers.</p>
+
+<p>'You accept?' said the King of the Peacocks. 'Then you must bide in
+prison until the princess has arrived.'</p>
+
+<p>The royal brothers raised no objection to this, for they knew well that
+Rosette was more beautiful than her portrait. The King of the Peacocks
+saw to it that his captives were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page185" name="page185"></a>[p. 185]</span> well looked after, and went
+often to visit them. The portrait of Rosette was placed in his palace,
+and he was so taken up with it that, night or day, he could scarcely
+sleep.</p>
+
+<p>From prison the king and the prince sent a letter to the princess
+telling her to pack at once all she might require and come as quickly as
+possible, for the King of the Peacocks awaited her. They did not dare to
+mention that they were in prison, lest she should be too uneasy.</p>
+
+<p>When the princess received this letter her transports of delight were
+enough to kill her. She announced to every one that the King of the
+Peacocks had been found, and desired to wed her. Bonfires were lit, guns
+fired, and sugar and sweetmeats eaten in abundance; while for three days
+every one who came to see the princess was treated to bread and butter
+with jam, and cakes and ale.</p>
+
+<p>Having dispensed hospitality in this liberal fashion, the princess gave
+all her beautiful dolls to her dearest friends, and entrusted her
+brother's realm to the wisest elders of the city. She bade them take
+care of everything, spend as little as possible, and save money until
+the king should return. At the same time she begged them to look after
+her peacock.</p>
+
+<p>Taking with her only her nurse and foster-sister, and her little green
+dog Frillikin, she embarked on a vessel and put out to sea. They had
+with them the bushel of golden crowns, and clothes enough to last for
+ten years, with a change of dress twice a day; and they did nothing but
+laugh and sing on the voyage.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the nurse said to the boatman:</p>
+
+<p>'Tell me, tell me, are we near the Land of Peacocks?'</p>
+
+<p>'Not yet, not yet,' replied the boatman.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page186" name="page186"></a>[p. 186]</span> A little later she asked again:</p>
+
+<p>'Tell me, tell me, are we near it now?'</p>
+
+<p>'Presently, presently,' replied the boatman.</p>
+
+<p>Once more she asked:</p>
+
+<p>'Tell me, tell me, are we near it now?'</p>
+
+<a id="img051" name="img051"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img051.jpg" width="349" height="350" alt="" title="">
+<p><i>The wicked nurse</i></p></div>
+
+<p>'Very near, very near,' said the boatman.</p>
+
+<p>When he answered thus the nurse sat down beside him in the stern of the
+boat. 'If you like, you can be rich for ever,' she said to him.</p>
+
+<p>'I should like that well,' replied the boatman.</p>
+
+<p>'If you like,' she went on, 'you can gain good money.'</p>
+
+<p>'I ask nothing better,' said he.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page187" name="page187"></a>[p. 187]</span> 'Very well, then,' said the nurse; 'to-night, when the princess
+is asleep, you must help me to throw her into the sea. When she is
+drowned I will dress up my daughter in her fine clothes, and we will
+take her to the King of the Peacocks, who will be delighted to marry
+her. You shall have your fill of diamonds as reward.'</p>
+
+<p>The boatman was taken aback by this suggestion from the nurse. He
+declared it was a pity to drown so beautiful a princess, and that he had
+compassion for her. But the nurse fetched a bottle of wine, and plied
+him with drink until he no longer had wits enough left to refuse.</p>
+
+<p>When night fell the princess went to sleep, according to her usual
+practice, with little Frillikin comfortably curled up at the foot of the
+bed, stirring not a paw. When Rosette was fast asleep the wicked nurse,
+who had remained awake, went to find the boatman. She took him to the
+cabin where the princess lay, and with the help of the foster-sister
+they lifted her up&mdash;feather-bed, mattress, sheets, blankets, and
+all&mdash;without disturbing her, and threw her into the sea just as she was.
+So soundly did the princess slumber that she never woke up.</p>
+
+<p>Now luckily her bed was made of feathers from the phoenix, which are
+very rare and have this peculiar virtue that they never sink in water.
+Consequently the princess went floating along in her bed, just as though
+she were in a boat.</p>
+
+<p>Presently, however, the water began little by little to lap first
+against the sides of the feather-bed, then against the mattress, until
+Rosette began to feel uncomfortable. She turned over restlessly, and
+Frillikin woke up. He had a very keen nose, and when he scented the
+soles and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page188" name="page188"></a>[p. 188]</span> the cod-fish so near at hand he began yapping. He
+barked so loudly that he woke up all the other fish, and they began to
+swim round and about. Some of the big fish bumped their heads against
+the bed, and there being nothing to steady the latter it spun round and
+round like a top.</p>
+
+<p>You may imagine how astonished the princess was! 'Is our vessel doing a
+dance upon the water?' she exclaimed; 'I do not remember ever to have
+been so uncomfortable as I am to-night.' And all the time Frillikin was
+barking as though he had taken leave of his senses.</p>
+
+<p>The wicked nurse and the boatman heard him from afar. 'Do you hear
+that?' they exclaimed; 'it is that funny little dog drinking our very
+good health with his mistress! Let us make haste and get ashore.' By
+this time, you must understand, they were lying off the capital of the
+King of the Peacocks.</p>
+
+<p>A hundred carriages had been sent to the water's edge by the king. These
+were drawn by animals of every kind&mdash;lions, bears, stags, wolves,
+horses, oxen, asses, eagles, and peacocks. The carriage in which
+Princess Rosette was to be borne was drawn by six blue monkeys which
+could leap and dance upon the tight-rope and perform endless amusing
+antics; these had trappings of crimson velvet, studded with gold plates.</p>
+
+<p>Sixty young girls awaited the coming of the princess. They had been
+selected by the king to be her maids of honour, and their attire, of
+every colour of the rainbow, shone with ornaments of which gold and
+silver were the least precious.</p>
+
+<p>The nurse had taken great pains over the toilette of her daughter. She
+had decked her out in Rosette's most <span class="pagenum"><a id="page189" name="page189"></a>[p. 189]</span> beautiful gown, and
+placed her diamonds on her head. But nothing could disguise the fact
+that she was an ugly little fright. Her hair was black and greasy, she
+was cross-eyed and bow-legged, and in the middle of her back she had a
+big hump. Moreover she was ill-tempered and sulky, and was for ever
+grumbling.</p>
+
+<a id="img052" name="img052"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img052.jpg" width="500" height="417" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>She was an ugly little fright</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>When the people of Peacock Land saw her disembark they were so
+completely taken aback that none could say a word.</p>
+
+<p>'What's the matter with you all?' she demanded; 'have you all gone to
+sleep? Bring me something to eat <span class="pagenum"><a id="page190" name="page190"></a>[p. 190]</span> at once, do you hear? I'll
+have the lot of you hanged, precious riff-raff that you are!'</p>
+
+<p>'What a horrible creature!' murmured the citizens amongst themselves,
+when they heard these threats; 'as ill-tempered as she is ugly! A nice
+bride for our king, or I am much mistaken! It was hardly worth the
+trouble to bring her all the way across the world.' The girl meantime
+continued to behave in most domineering fashion, giving slaps and blows
+to every one without the slightest provocation.</p>
+
+<p>The procession, being very large, was obliged to move slowly, and as the
+carriage bore her along she comported herself as though she were a
+queen. But all the peacocks, who had perched upon the trees to greet her
+as she passed, and had arranged to call out 'Long live the beautiful
+Queen Rosette!' cried out when they saw how horrible she was: 'Fie! fie!
+how ugly she is!' This enraged her, and she called out to her escort:
+'Kill those impudent peacocks: they are insulting me!' But the peacocks
+flew nimbly away, and laughed at her.</p>
+
+<p>The rascally boatman was witness of all that occurred, and whispered to
+the nurse: 'Things are not going well for us, my good woman: your
+daughter should have been prettier.'</p>
+
+<p>'Hold your tongue, stupid!' she replied; 'or you will get us into
+trouble.'</p>
+
+<p>Word was brought to the king that the princess was approaching. 'Well,'
+said he; 'did her brothers speak the truth? Is she more beautiful than
+her portrait?'</p>
+
+<p>'Sire,' said the courtiers, 'if she is only as beautiful, that should be
+enough.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page191" name="page191"></a>[p. 191]</span> 'Very true!' exclaimed the king. 'I shall be content with that.
+Let us go and see her.'</p>
+
+<p>He could tell from the din which arose from the courtyard that the
+princess had arrived, but the only words he could hear plainly amidst
+the hubbub were cries of 'Fie! fie! how ugly she is!' He supposed people
+must be referring to some dwarf or pet creature which she had perhaps
+brought with her, for it never entered his head that it could be the
+princess herself who was meant.</p>
+
+<p>The portrait of Rosette, uncovered, was hoisted on the end of a long
+pole, and carried in front of the king, who walked in state with his
+barons and peacocks, and the ambassadors from neighbouring kingdoms in
+his train. Great was the impatience of the King of the Peacocks to
+behold his dear Rosette; but when at length he did set eyes on
+her&mdash;gracious heavens, it was a wonder the shock did not kill him on the
+spot! He flew into a most terrible rage, rending his clothes, and
+refusing to go near her. Indeed, she frightened him.</p>
+
+<p>'What!' he cried; 'have those two dastardly prisoners the impudence to
+mock me thus, and propose that I should wed such a loathsome creature as
+that? They shall die for it! Away with that hussy and her nurse, and the
+fellow who brought them here; cast them into the dungeon of my keep!'</p>
+
+<p>Now the king and his brother, who had heard in prison that their sister
+was expected, had attired themselves handsomely to receive her. But
+instead of the prison being opened and their liberty restored, as they
+had anticipated, there came the gaoler with a squad of soldiers, and
+made them descend into a black dungeon, swarming with vile <span class="pagenum"><a id="page192" name="page192"></a>[p. 192]</span>
+creatures, where the water was up to their necks. Never were two people
+more astounded or more distressed. 'Alas!' they cried to each other;
+'this is a doleful wedding feast for us! What has brought this unhappy
+fate upon us?' They did not know what in the world to think, except that
+it was desired to compass their death, and this reflection filled them
+with melancholy.</p>
+
+<p>Three days passed and they heard not a word of anything. At the end of
+the third day the King of the Peacocks came and hurled insults at them
+through a hole in the wall.</p>
+
+<p>'You called yourselves King and Prince to trap me,' he shouted to them,
+'and sought thus to make me promise to wed your sister. But you are
+nought but a couple of beggars, not worth the water you drink. You shall
+be sent for trial, and the judges will make short work of your case&mdash;the
+rope to hang you with is being plaited already!'</p>
+
+<p>'Not so fast, King of the Peacocks,' replied the captive monarch,
+angrily, 'or you will have cause to repent it! I am a king like
+yourself: I rule over a fair land, I have robes and crowns and treasure
+in plenty. I pledge my all to the truth of what I say. You must be
+joking to talk of hanging us&mdash;of what have we robbed you?'</p>
+
+<p>The King of the Peacocks hardly knew what to make of this bold and
+confident challenge. He was almost of a mind to spare their lives and
+let them take their sister away. But his Chancellor, an arrant
+flatterer, egged him on, whispering that if he did not avenge himself,
+he would be the laughing-stock of the whole world, and would be looked
+upon as a mere twopenny-halfpenny monarch. Thus influenced, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page193" name="page193"></a>[p. 193]</span> he
+vowed he would not pardon them, and ordered their trial to take place.</p>
+
+<p>This did not take long, for it was only necessary to compare side by
+side the portrait of the true Princess Rosette with the actual person
+who had come in her place and claimed identity with her. The prisoners
+were forthwith condemned to have their heads cut off as a penalty for
+lying, in that they brought the king an ugly little peasant girl after
+promising a beautiful princess.</p>
+
+<p>The sentence was read with great ceremony at the prison, but the victims
+protested that they had spoken the truth, that their sister was indeed a
+princess, and that there was something at the back of all this which
+they did not understand. They asked for a respite of seven days, that
+they might have an opportunity of establishing their innocence; and
+though the King of the Peacock's wrath was such that he had great
+difficulty in granting this concession, he agreed to it at length.</p>
+
+<p>Something must now be told of what was happening to poor Princess
+Rosette while all these events were taking place at the Court.</p>
+
+<p>Great was her astonishment, and Frillikin's also, to find herself, when
+day came, in mid-ocean without boat or any means of assistance. She fell
+to weeping, and cried so long and bitterly that all the fishes were
+moved to compassion. She knew not what to do, nor what would become of
+her.</p>
+
+<p>'There is no doubt,' she said, 'that I have been thrown into the sea by
+order of the King of the Peacocks. He has regretted his promise to marry
+me, and to be rid of me without fuss he has had me drowned. A strange
+way for a man to behave! And I should have loved him so much, and we
+should have been so happy together!'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page194" name="page194"></a>[p. 194]</span> These thoughts made her weep the more, for she could not dispel
+her fancy for him.</p>
+
+<a id="img053" name="img053"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img053.jpg" width="500" height="427" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>She floated hither and thither</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>For two days she floated hither and thither over the sea, soaked to the
+skin, nigh dead with cold, and so nearly benumbed that but for little
+Frillikin, who snuggled to her bosom, and kept a little warmth in her,
+she must have perished a hundred times. She was famished with hunger,
+but on seeing some oysters in their shells she took and ate as many as
+would appease her. Frillikin did the same, but only to keep himself
+alive, for he did not like them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page195" name="page195"></a>[p. 195]</span> When night fell Rosette was filled with terror. 'Bark,
+Frillikin,' she said to her dog; 'keep on barking, or the soles will
+come and eat us!' So Frillikin barked all night.</p>
+
+<a id="img054" name="img054"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img054.jpg" width="400" height="195" alt="" title="">
+<p>'<i>A kindly old man</i>'</p></div>
+
+<p>When morning came the bed was not far off the shore. Hereabouts there
+lived, all alone, a kindly old man. His home was a little hut where no
+one ever came, and as he had no desire for worldly goods he was very
+poor. He was astonished when he heard the barking of Frillikin, for no
+dogs ever came that way; and supposing that some travellers must have
+missed their road, he went out with the good-natured intention of
+putting them right. Suddenly he saw the princess and Frillikin floating
+out at sea. The princess caught sight of him, and stretching out her
+arms to him, cried:</p>
+
+<p>'Save me, kind old man, or I shall perish; two whole days have I been
+floating thus.'</p>
+
+<p>He was filled with pity when he heard her speak thus dolefully, and went
+to his house to fetch a big crook. He waded out till the water was up to
+his neck, and after being <span class="pagenum"><a id="page196" name="page196"></a>[p. 196]</span> nearly drowned two or three times he
+succeeded in grappling the bed and drawing it to the shore.</p>
+
+<p>Rosette and Frillikin were delighted to find themselves once more on
+land. Rosette thanked the good man warmly. She accepted the offer of his
+cloak, and having wrapped herself in it walked barefoot to his hut.
+There he lit a little fire of dry straw, and took from a chest his dead
+wife's best dress, with a pair of stockings and shoes, which the
+princess put on. Clad thus in peasant's attire, with Frillikin
+gambolling round her to amuse her, she looked as beautiful as ever.</p>
+
+<p>The old man saw plainly that Rosette was a great lady, for the coverlets
+of her bed were of gold and silver, and her mattress of satin. He begged
+her to tell him her story, promising not to repeat a word if she so
+desired. She related everything from beginning to end&mdash;not without
+tears, for she still believed that the King of the Peacocks had meant
+her to be drowned.</p>
+
+<p>'What are we to do, my child?' said the old man. 'A great lady like you
+is accustomed to live on dainties, and I have only black bread and
+radishes&mdash;very poor fare for you. But I will go, if you will let me, and
+tell the King of the Peacocks that you are here. There is not the least
+doubt he will marry you, once he has seen you.'</p>
+
+<p>'He is a bad man,' said Rosette; 'he wanted me to die. If only you can
+supply me with a small basket to fasten on my dog's neck, it will be
+exceedingly bad luck if he does not bring us back something to eat.'</p>
+
+<p>The old man handed a basket to the princess, and she hung it round
+Frillikin's neck with these words: 'Find the best stew-pot in the town,
+and bring me back whatever is inside it.' Off went Frillikin to the
+town, and as he <span class="pagenum"><a id="page197" name="page197"></a>[p. 197]</span> could think of no better stew-pot than the
+king's, he made his way into the royal kitchen. Having found the
+stew-pot, he cleverly extricated its contents and returned to the house.</p>
+
+<p>'Now go back to the larder,' said Rosette, 'and bring the best that you
+can find there.'</p>
+
+<p>Away went Frillikin to the larder and took some white bread, some choice
+wine, and an assortment of fruit and sweets. In fact, he took as much as
+he could carry.</p>
+
+<p>When the King of the Peacocks should have dined there was nothing in the
+stew-pot and nothing in the larder. Everybody gazed blankly at everybody
+else, and the king flew into a terrible rage. 'Oh, very good,' said he;
+'it seems I am to have no dinner! Well, put the spits to the fire, and
+see to it that some good roast joints are ready for me this evening!'</p>
+
+<p>When evening came the princess said to Frillikin: 'Find the best kitchen
+in the town and bring me a nice roast joint.' Off went Frillikin to
+carry out this order from his mistress. Thinking there could be no
+better kitchen than the king's, he slipped in quietly when the cooks'
+backs were turned, and took off the spit a roast joint, which looked so
+good that the mere sight of it gave one an appetite. His basket was full
+when he brought it back to the princess, but she sent him off again to
+the larder, and from there he carried away all the king's sweetmeats and
+dessert.</p>
+
+<p>The king was exceedingly hungry, having had no dinner, and ordered
+supper betimes. But there was nothing to eat, and he went to bed in a
+frightful temper. Next day at dinner and supper it was just the same.
+For three days the king had nothing to eat or drink, for every time he
+sat down at table it was found that everything had been stolen.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page198" name="page198"></a>[p. 198]</span> The Chancellor, being very much afraid that the king would die,
+went and hid in a corner of the kitchen, whence he could keep the
+stew-pot on the fire constantly in view. To his astonishment he saw a
+little green dog, with only one ear, creep in stealthily, take the lid
+off the pot, and transfer the meat to his basket. He followed it in
+order to find out where it went, and saw it leave the town. Still
+pursuing, he came to the house of the good old man. He went immediately
+to the king and told him that it was to a poor peasant's house that
+every morning and evening his dinner and supper vanished.</p>
+
+<p>The king was mightily astonished, and ordered investigations to be made.
+The Chancellor, to curry favour, volunteered to go himself, and took
+with him a posse of archers. They found the old man at dinner with the
+princess, and the pair of them eating the king's provisions. They seized
+and bound them with strong ropes, not forgetting to deal in like manner
+with Frillikin.</p>
+
+<p>'To-morrow,' said the king, when he was told that the prisoners had
+arrived, 'the seven days' grace expires which I granted to those
+miscreants who insulted me. They shall go to execution with the stealers
+of my dinner.'</p>
+
+<p>When the King of the Peacocks entered the court of justice the old man
+flung himself on his knees, and declared that he would narrate all that
+had happened. As he told his story the king eyed the beautiful princess,
+and was touched by her weeping. When presently the good man declared
+that her name was the Princess Rosette, and that she had been thrown
+into the sea, he bounded three times into the air, despite the weak
+state in which he was after going so long without food, and ran to
+embrace her. As <span class="pagenum"><a id="page199" name="page199"></a>[p. 199]</span> he undid the cords which bound her he cried
+out that he loved her with all his heart.</p>
+
+<a id="img055" name="img055"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img055.jpg" width="350" height="349" alt="decoration" title=""></div>
+
+<p>A guard had been sent for the princes, who approached just then. They
+came sadly with bowed heads, for they believed the hour of their
+execution had come. The nurse and her daughter were brought in at the
+same moment. Recognition was instant on all sides. Rosette flung herself
+into her brothers' arms, while the nurse and her daughter, with the
+boatman, fell on their knees and prayed for clemency. So joyous was the
+occasion that the king and the princess pardoned them. The good old man
+was handsomely rewarded, and given quarters at the palace for the rest
+of his life.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page200" name="page200"></a>[p. 200]</span> Finally, the King of the Peacocks made all amends in his power
+to the royal brothers, expressing his deep regret at having ill-treated
+them. The nurse delivered up to Rosette her beautiful dresses and the
+bushel of golden crowns, and the wedding festivities lasted for fifteen
+days. Every one was happy, not excepting Frillikin, who ate nothing but
+partridge wings for the rest of his life.</p>
+
+<a id="img056" name="img056"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img056.jpg" width="500" height="454" alt="decoration" title=""></div>
+
+<p class="center ftsize115">THE END</p>
+
+
+<p class="center ftsize105">Edinburgh: Printed by T. and A. <span class="smcap">Constable Ltd.</span></p>
+
+<p class="center top5"><b>Transcriber's Notes:</b></p>
+
+<p>Other than the corrections listed below, printer's inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, and ligature usage have been retained.</p>
+<p>The following misprints have been corrected:</p>
+<ul class="add2em">
+<li>changed "book-case" into bookcase page <a href="#page127">127</a></li>
+<li>added ' before I am sure,' page <a href="#page120">120</a></li>
+<li>added ' after there are no flies here, page <a href="#page145">145</a></li>
+<li>added ' after possibly carry out. page <a href="#page145">145</a></li>
+</ul>
+<p>Illustrations have been moved from the middle of a paragraph to the closest paragraph break, the following full-page illustrations have bee moved as followed:</p>
+<ul class="add2em">
+<li>page 3 to page <a href="#page5">5</a></li>
+<li>page 7 to page <a href="#page6">6</a></li>
+<li>page 23 to page <a href="#page22">22</a></li>
+<li>page 31 to page <a href="#page30">30</a></li>
+<li>page 43 to page <a href="#page42">42</a></li>
+<li>page 51 to page <a href="#page50">50</a></li>
+<li>page 57 to page <a href="#page56">56</a></li>
+<li>page 63 to page <a href="#page62">62</a></li>
+<li>page 71 to page <a href="#page70">70</a></li>
+<li>page 81 to page <a href="#page80">80</a></li>
+<li>page 85 to page <a href="#page84">84</a></li>
+<li>page 89 to page <a href="#page88">88</a></li>
+<li>page 101 to page <a href="#page100">100</a></li>
+<li>page 105 to page <a href="#page107">107</a></li>
+<li>page 117 to page <a href="#page116">116</a></li>
+<li>page 135 to page <a href="#page134">134</a></li>
+<li>page 155 to page <a href="#page152">152</a></li>
+<li>page 179 to page <a href="#page178">178</a></li>
+</ul>
+<p>Missing page numbers correspond to moved illustrations and blank pages.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old-Time Stories, by Charles Perrault
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+</body>
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+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old-Time Stories, by Charles Perrault
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Old-Time Stories
+
+Author: Charles Perrault
+
+Illustrator: W. Heath Robinson
+
+Translator: A. E. Johnson
+
+Release Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #31431]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD-TIME STORIES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Chris Curnow, Iris Gehring and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+OLD-TIME STORIES
+
+[Illustration: "THEY REACHED THE HOUSE WHERE THE LIGHT WAS BURNING."]
+
+
+
+
+OLD-TIME STORIES
+
+  _told by_
+
+MASTER CHARLES PERRAULT
+
+  _translated from
+  the French by
+  A.E.Johnson
+  with illustrations
+  by_
+
+W.HEATH ROBINSON
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+  NEW YORK
+  DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
+
+
+
+
+
+_First Published, 1921_
+
+_Printed in Great Britain_
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFATORY NOTE
+
+
+Of the eleven tales which the present volume comprises, the first eight
+are from the master-hand of Charles Perrault. Charles Perrault
+(1628-1703) enjoyed much distinction in his day, and is familiar to
+students of French literature for the prominent part that he played in
+the famous _Quarrel of the Ancients and Moderns_, which so keenly
+occupied French men of letters in the latter part of the seventeenth
+century. But his fame to-day rests upon his authorship of the
+traditional _Tales of Mother Goose; or Stories of Olden Times_, and so
+long as there are children to listen spellbound to the adventures of
+Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, and that arch rogue Puss in Boots, his
+memory will endure.
+
+To the eight tales of Perrault three others have been added here.
+'Beauty and the Beast,' by Mme Leprince de Beaumont (1711-1781), has a
+celebrity which warrants its inclusion, however inferior it may seem, as
+an example of the story-teller's art, to the masterpieces of Perrault.
+'Princess Rosette' and 'The Friendly Frog' are from the prolific pen of
+Mme d'Aulnoy (1650-1705), a contemporary of Perrault, whom she could
+sometimes rival in invention, if never in dramatic power.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+
+
+
+  CONTENTS
+
+
+                                                                   PAGE
+
+  THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD                                     1
+
+  PUSS IN BOOTS                                                      21
+
+  LITTLE TOM THUMB                                                   34
+
+  THE FAIRIES                                                        55
+
+  RICKY OF THE TUFT                                                  61
+
+  CINDERELLA                                                         75
+
+  LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD                                             92
+
+  BLUE BEARD                                                         99
+
+  BEAUTY AND THE BEAST                                              113
+
+  THE FRIENDLY FROG                                                 138
+
+  PRINCESS ROSETTE                                                  174
+
+
+
+
+  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+  COLOURED PLATES
+
+  'They reached the house where the light was burning'
+        (see page 41)                                     _Frontispiece_
+
+                                                            FACING PAGE
+
+  'The most beautiful sight he had ever seen'                        16
+
+  'All that remained for the youngest was the cat'                   21
+
+  '"You must die, madam," he said'                                   99
+
+  'Every evening the Beast paid her a visit'                        130
+
+  '"Could your father but see you, my poor child"'                  152
+
+
+  BLACK-AND-WHITE ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+                                                                   PAGE
+
+  'The king ... at once published an edict'                           3
+
+  'A little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots'               7
+
+  'The king's son chanced to go a-hunting'                           10
+
+  'All asleep'                                                       12
+
+  'They all fell asleep'                                             13
+
+  'As though he were dead'                                           23
+
+  'The cat went on ahead'                                            26
+
+  Puss in Boots                                                      27
+
+  'Puss became a personage of great importance'                      31
+
+  'A good dame opened the door'                                      37
+
+  'He could smell fresh flesh'                                       43
+
+  'He set off over the countryside'                                  47
+
+  'Laden with all the ogre's wealth'                                 51
+
+  'Lifting up the jug so that she might drink the more easily'       57
+
+  'She could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece without
+     breaking one of them'                                           63
+
+  'Graceful and easy conversation'                                   65
+
+  Ricky of the Tuft                                                  71
+
+  'The haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been seen'           77
+
+  'Her godmother found her in tears'                                 81
+
+  'Away she went'                                                    83
+
+  'She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn'                            85
+
+  'They tried it first on the princesses'                            89
+
+  Little Red Riding Hood                                             93
+
+  'She met old Father Wolf'                                          95
+
+  'Making nosegays of the wild flowers'                              96
+
+  'Come up on the bed with me'                                       97
+
+  Blue Beard                                                        101
+
+  'She washed it well'                                              104
+
+  Sister Anne                                                       105
+
+  'Brandishing the cutlass aloft'                                   109
+
+  'At first she found it very hard'                                 115
+
+  '"Look at our little sister"'                                     117
+
+  'It was snowing horribly'                                         119
+
+  The Beast                                                         122
+
+  '"Your doom is to become statues"'                                135
+
+  'The approach to it was by ten thousand steps'                    143
+
+  The Friendly Frog                                                 146
+
+  'The journey lasted seven years'                                  155
+
+  Princess Rosette                                                  179
+
+  The wicked nurse                                                  186
+
+  'She was an ugly little fright'                                   189
+
+  'She floated hither and thither'                                  194
+
+  'A kindly old man'                                                195
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+
+
+
+THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who were grieved, more
+grieved than words can tell, because they had no children. They tried
+the waters of every country, made vows and pilgrimages, and did
+everything that could be done, but without result. At last, however, the
+queen found that her wishes were fulfilled, and in due course she gave
+birth to a daughter.
+
+A grand christening was held, and all the fairies that could be found in
+the realm (they numbered seven in all) were invited to be godmothers to
+the little princess. This was done so that by means of the gifts which
+each in turn would bestow upon her (in accordance with the fairy custom
+of those days) the princess might be endowed with every imaginable
+perfection.
+
+When the christening ceremony was over, all the company returned to the
+king's palace, where a great banquet was held in honour of the fairies.
+Places were laid for them in magnificent style, and before each was
+placed a solid gold casket containing a spoon, fork, and knife of fine
+gold, set with diamonds and rubies. But just as all were sitting down to
+table an aged fairy was seen to enter, whom no one had thought to
+invite--the reason being that for more than fifty years she had never
+quitted the tower in which she lived, and people had supposed her to be
+dead or bewitched.
+
+By the king's orders a place was laid for her, but it was impossible to
+give her a golden casket like the others, for only seven had been made
+for the seven fairies. The old creature believed that she was
+intentionally slighted, and muttered threats between her teeth.
+
+She was overheard by one of the young fairies, who was seated near by.
+The latter, guessing that some mischievous gift might be bestowed upon
+the little princess, hid behind the tapestry as soon as the company left
+the table. Her intention was to be the last to speak, and so to have the
+power of counteracting, as far as possible, any evil which the old fairy
+might do.
+
+Presently the fairies began to bestow their gifts upon the princess. The
+youngest ordained that she should be the most beautiful person in the
+world; the next, that she should have the temper of an angel; the third,
+that she should do everything with wonderful grace; the fourth, that she
+should dance to perfection; the fifth, that she should sing like a
+nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play every kind of music
+with the utmost skill.
+
+It was now the turn of the aged fairy. Shaking her head, in token of
+spite rather than of infirmity, she declared that the princess should
+prick her hand with a spindle, and die of it. A shudder ran through the
+company at this terrible gift. All eyes were filled with tears.
+
+But at this moment the young fairy stepped forth from behind the
+tapestry.
+
+'Take comfort, your Majesties,' she cried in a loud voice; 'your
+daughter shall not die. My power, it is true, is not enough to undo all
+that my aged kinswoman has decreed: the princess will indeed prick her
+hand with a spindle. But instead of dying she shall merely fall into
+a profound slumber that will last a hundred years. At the end of that
+time a king's son shall come to awaken her.'
+
+[Illustration: '_The king ... at once published an edict_']
+
+The king, in an attempt to avert the unhappy doom pronounced by the old
+fairy, at once published an edict forbidding all persons, under pain of
+death, to use a spinning-wheel or keep a spindle in the house.
+
+At the end of fifteen or sixteen years the king and queen happened one
+day to be away, on pleasure bent. The princess was running about the
+castle, and going upstairs from room to room she came at length to a
+garret at the top of a tower, where an old serving-woman sat alone with
+her distaff, spinning. This good woman had never heard speak of the
+king's proclamation forbidding the use of spinning-wheels.
+
+'What are you doing, my good woman?' asked the princess.
+
+'I am spinning, my pretty child,' replied the dame, not knowing who she
+was.
+
+'Oh, what fun!' rejoined the princess; 'how do you do it? Let me try and
+see if I can do it equally well.'
+
+Partly because she was too hasty, partly because she was a little
+heedless, but also because the fairy decree had ordained it, no sooner
+had she seized the spindle than she pricked her hand and fell down in a
+swoon.
+
+In great alarm the good dame cried out for help. People came running
+from every quarter to the princess. They threw water on her face, chafed
+her with their hands, and rubbed her temples with the royal essence of
+Hungary. But nothing would restore her.
+
+Then the king, who had been brought upstairs by the commotion,
+remembered the fairy prophecy. Feeling certain that what had happened
+was inevitable, since the fairies had decreed it, he gave orders that
+the princess should be placed in the finest apartment in the palace,
+upon a bed embroidered in gold and silver.
+
+You would have thought her an angel, so fair was she to behold. The
+trance had not taken away the lovely colour of her complexion. Her
+cheeks were delicately flushed, her lips like coral. Her eyes, indeed,
+were closed, but her gentle breathing could be heard, and it was
+therefore plain that she was not dead. The king commanded that she
+should be left to sleep in peace until the hour of her awakening should
+come.
+
+When the accident happened to the princess, the good fairy who had saved
+her life by condemning her to sleep a hundred years was in the kingdom
+of Mataquin, twelve thousand leagues away. She was instantly warned of
+it, however, by a little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots,
+which are boots that enable one to cover seven leagues at a single step.
+The fairy set off at once, and within an hour her chariot of fire, drawn
+by dragons, was seen approaching.
+
+The king handed her down from her chariot, and she approved of all that
+he had done. But being gifted with great powers of foresight, she
+bethought herself that when the princess came to be awakened, she would
+be much distressed to find herself all alone in the old castle. And this
+is what she did.
+
+[Illustration: '_A little dwarf who had a pair of seven-league boots_']
+
+She touched with her wand everybody (except the king and queen) who was
+in the castle--governesses, maids of honour, ladies-in-waiting,
+gentlemen, officers, stewards, cooks, scullions, errand boys, guards,
+porters, pages, footmen. She touched likewise all the horses in the
+stables, with their grooms, the big mastiffs in the courtyard, and
+little Puff, the pet dog of the princess, who was lying on the bed
+beside his mistress. The moment she had touched them they all fell
+asleep, to awaken only at the same moment as their mistress. Thus they
+would always be ready with their service whenever she should require it.
+The very spits before the fire, loaded with partridges and pheasants,
+subsided into slumber, and the fire as well. All was done in a moment,
+for the fairies do not take long over their work.
+
+Then the king and queen kissed their dear child, without waking her, and
+left the castle. Proclamations were issued, forbidding any approach to
+it, but these warnings were not needed, for within a quarter of an hour
+there grew up all round the park so vast a quantity of trees big and
+small, with interlacing brambles and thorns, that neither man nor beast
+could penetrate them. The tops alone of the castle towers could be seen,
+and these only from a distance. Thus did the fairy's magic contrive that
+the princess, during all the time of her slumber, should have nought
+whatever to fear from prying eyes.
+
+At the end of a hundred years the throne had passed to another family
+from that of the sleeping princess. One day the king's son chanced to go
+a-hunting that way, and seeing in the distance some towers in the midst
+of a large and dense forest, he asked what they were. His attendants
+told him in reply the various stories which they had heard. Some said
+there was an old castle haunted by ghosts, others that all the witches
+of the neighbourhood held their revels there. The favourite tale was
+that in the castle lived an ogre, who carried thither all the children
+whom he could catch. There he devoured them at his leisure, and since he
+was the only person who could force a passage through the wood nobody
+had been able to pursue him.
+
+[Illustration: '_The king's son chanced to go a-hunting_']
+
+While the prince was wondering what to believe, an old peasant took up
+the tale.
+
+'Your Highness,' said he, 'more than fifty years ago I heard my father
+say that in this castle lies a princess, the most beautiful that has
+ever been seen. It is her doom to sleep there for a hundred years, and
+then to be awakened by a king's son, for whose coming she waits.'
+
+This story fired the young prince. He jumped immediately to the
+conclusion that it was for him to see so gay an adventure through, and
+impelled alike by the wish for love and glory, he resolved to set about
+it on the spot.
+
+Hardly had he taken a step towards the wood when the tall trees, the
+brambles and the thorns, separated of themselves and made a path for
+him. He turned in the direction of the castle, and espied it at the end
+of a long avenue. This avenue he entered, and was surprised to notice
+that the trees closed up again as soon as he had passed, so that none of
+his retinue were able to follow him. A young and gallant prince is
+always brave, however; so he continued on his way, and presently reached
+a large fore-court.
+
+The sight that now met his gaze was enough to fill him with an icy fear.
+The silence of the place was dreadful, and death seemed all about him.
+The recumbent figures of men and animals had all the appearance of being
+lifeless, until he perceived by the pimply noses and ruddy faces of the
+porters that they merely slept. It was plain, too, from their glasses,
+in which were still some dregs of wine, that they had fallen asleep
+while drinking.
+
+The prince made his way into a great courtyard, paved with marble, and
+mounting the staircase entered the guardroom. Here the guards were lined
+up on either side in two ranks, their muskets on their shoulders,
+snoring their hardest. Through several apartments crowded with ladies
+and gentlemen in waiting, some seated, some standing, but all asleep, he
+pushed on, and so came at last to a chamber which was decked all over
+with gold. There he encountered the most beautiful sight he had ever
+seen. Reclining upon a bed, the curtains of which on every side were
+drawn back, was a princess of seemingly some fifteen or sixteen summers,
+whose radiant beauty had an almost unearthly lustre.
+
+[Illustration: '_All asleep_']
+
+Trembling in his admiration he drew near and went on his knees beside
+her. At the same moment, the hour of disenchantment having come, the
+princess awoke, and bestowed upon him a look more tender than a first
+glance might seem to warrant.
+
+'Is it you, dear prince?' she said; 'you have been long in coming!'
+
+Charmed by these words, and especially by the manner in which they were
+said, the prince scarcely knew how to express his delight and
+gratification. He declared that he loved her better than he loved
+himself. His words were faltering, but they pleased the more for that.
+The less there is of eloquence, the more there is of love.
+
+Her embarrassment was less than his, and that is not to be wondered at,
+since she had had time to think of what she would say to him. It seems
+(although the story says nothing about it) that the good fairy had
+beguiled her long slumber with pleasant dreams. To be brief, after four
+hours of talking they had not succeeded in uttering one half of the
+things they had to say to each other.
+
+[Illustration: '_They all fell asleep_']
+
+Now the whole palace had awakened with the princess. Every one went
+about his business, and since they were not all in love they presently
+began to feel mortally hungry. The lady-in-waiting, who was suffering
+like the rest, at length lost patience, and in a loud voice called out
+to the princess that supper was served.
+
+The princess was already fully dressed, and in most magnificent style.
+As he helped her to rise, the prince refrained from telling her that her
+clothes, with the straight collar which she wore, were like those to
+which his grandmother had been accustomed. And in truth, they in no way
+detracted from her beauty.
+
+They passed into an apartment hung with mirrors, and were there served
+with supper by the stewards of the household, while the fiddles and
+oboes played some old music--and played it remarkably well, considering
+they had not played at all for just upon a hundred years. A little
+later, when supper was over, the chaplain married them in the castle
+chapel, and in due course, attended by the courtiers in waiting, they
+retired to rest.
+
+They slept but little, however. The princess, indeed, had not much need
+of sleep, and as soon as morning came the prince took his leave of her.
+He returned to the city, and told his father, who was awaiting him with
+some anxiety, that he had lost himself while hunting in the forest, but
+had obtained some black bread and cheese from a charcoal-burner, in
+whose hovel he had passed the night. His royal father, being of an
+easy-going nature, believed the tale, but his mother was not so easily
+hoodwinked. She noticed that he now went hunting every day, and that he
+always had an excuse handy when he had slept two or three nights from
+home. She felt certain, therefore, that he had some love affair.
+
+Two whole years passed since the marriage of the prince and princess,
+and during that time they had two children. The first, a daughter, was
+called 'Dawn,' while the second, a boy, was named 'Day,' because he
+seemed even more beautiful than his sister.
+
+Many a time the queen told her son that he ought to settle down in life.
+She tried in this way to make him confide in her, but he did not dare to
+trust her with his secret. Despite the affection which he bore her, he
+was afraid of his mother, for she came of a race of ogres, and the king
+had only married her for her wealth.
+
+It was whispered at the Court that she had ogrish instincts, and that
+when little children were near her she had the greatest difficulty in
+the world to keep herself from pouncing on them.
+
+No wonder the prince was reluctant to say a word.
+
+But at the end of two years the king died, and the prince found himself
+on the throne. He then made public announcement of his marriage, and
+went in state to fetch his royal consort from her castle. With her two
+children beside her she made a triumphal entry into the capital of her
+husband's realm.
+
+Some time afterwards the king declared war on his neighbour, the Emperor
+Cantalabutte. He appointed the queen-mother as regent in his absence,
+and entrusted his wife and children to her care.
+
+[Illustration: "THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT HE HAD EVER SEEN."]
+
+He expected to be away at the war for the whole of the summer, and as
+soon as he was gone the queen-mother sent her daughter-in-law and the
+two children to a country mansion in the forest. This she did that
+she might be able the more easily to gratify her horrible longings. A
+few days later she went there herself, and in the evening summoned the
+chief steward.
+
+'For my dinner to-morrow,' she told him, 'I will eat little Dawn.'
+
+'Oh, Madam!' exclaimed the steward.
+
+'That is my will,' said the queen; and she spoke in the tones of an ogre
+who longs for raw meat.
+
+'You will serve her with piquant sauce,' she added.
+
+The poor man, seeing plainly that it was useless to trifle with an
+ogress, took his big knife and went up to little Dawn's chamber. She was
+at that time four years old, and when she came running with a smile to
+greet him, flinging her arms round his neck and coaxing him to give her
+some sweets, he burst into tears, and let the knife fall from his hand.
+
+Presently he went down to the yard behind the house, and slaughtered a
+young lamb. For this he made so delicious a sauce that his mistress
+declared she had never eaten anything so good.
+
+At the same time the steward carried little Dawn to his wife, and bade
+the latter hide her in the quarters which they had below the yard.
+
+Eight days later the wicked queen summoned her steward again.
+
+'For my supper,' she announced, 'I will eat little Day.'
+
+The steward made no answer, being determined to trick her as he had done
+previously. He went in search of little Day, whom he found with a tiny
+foil in his hand, making brave passes--though he was but three years
+old--at a big monkey. He carried him off to his wife, who stowed him
+away in hiding with little Dawn. To the ogress the steward served up, in
+place of Day, a young kid so tender that she found it surpassingly
+delicious.
+
+So far, so good. But there came an evening when this evil queen again
+addressed the steward.
+
+'I have a mind,' she said, 'to eat the queen with the same sauce as you
+served with her children.'
+
+This time the poor steward despaired of being able to practise another
+deception. The young queen was twenty years old, without counting the
+hundred years she had been asleep. Her skin, though white and beautiful,
+had become a little tough, and what animal could he possibly find that
+would correspond to her? He made up his mind that if he would save his
+own life he must kill the queen, and went upstairs to her apartment
+determined to do the deed once and for all. Goading himself into a rage
+he drew his knife and entered the young queen's chamber, but a
+reluctance to give her no moment of grace made him repeat respectfully
+the command which he had received from the queen-mother.
+
+'Do it! do it!' she cried, baring her neck to him; 'carry out the order
+you have been given! Then once more I shall see my children, my poor
+children that I loved so much!'
+
+Nothing had been said to her when the children were stolen away, and she
+believed them to be dead.
+
+The poor steward was overcome by compassion. 'No, no, Madam,' he
+declared; 'you shall not die, but you shall certainly see your children
+again. That will be in my quarters, where I have hidden them. I shall
+make the queen eat a young hind in place of you, and thus trick her
+once more.'
+
+Without more ado he led her to his quarters, and leaving her there to
+embrace and weep over her children, proceeded to cook a hind with such
+art that the queen-mother ate it for her supper with as much appetite as
+if it had indeed been the young queen.
+
+The queen-mother felt well satisfied with her cruel deeds, and planned
+to tell the king, on his return, that savage wolves had devoured his
+consort and his children. It was her habit, however, to prowl often
+about the courts and alleys of the mansion, in the hope of scenting raw
+meat, and one evening she heard the little boy Day crying in a basement
+cellar. The child was weeping because his mother had threatened to whip
+him for some naughtiness, and she heard at the same time the voice of
+Dawn begging forgiveness for her brother.
+
+The ogress recognised the voices of the queen and her children, and was
+enraged to find she had been tricked. The next morning, in tones so
+affrighting that all trembled, she ordered a huge vat to be brought into
+the middle of the courtyard. This she filled with vipers and toads, with
+snakes and serpents of every kind, intending to cast into it the queen
+and her children, and the steward with his wife and serving-girl. By her
+command these were brought forward, with their hands tied behind their
+backs.
+
+There they were, and her minions were making ready to cast them into the
+vat, when into the courtyard rode the king! Nobody had expected him so
+soon, but he had travelled post-haste. Filled with amazement, he
+demanded to know what this horrible spectacle meant. None dared tell
+him, and at that moment the ogress, enraged at what confronted her,
+threw herself head foremost into the vat, and was devoured on the
+instant by the hideous creatures she had placed in it.
+
+The king could not but be sorry, for after all she was his mother; but
+it was not long before he found ample consolation in his beautiful wife
+and children.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "ALL THAT REMAINED FOR THE YOUNGEST WAS THE CAT."]
+
+PUSS IN BOOTS
+
+
+A certain miller had three sons, and when he died the sole worldly goods
+which he bequeathed to them were his mill, his ass, and his cat. This
+little legacy was very quickly divided up, and you may be quite sure
+that neither notary nor attorney were called in to help, for they would
+speedily have grabbed it all for themselves.
+
+The eldest son took the mill, and the second son took the ass.
+Consequently all that remained for the youngest son was the cat, and he
+was not a little disappointed at receiving such a miserable portion.
+
+'My brothers,' said he, 'will be able to get a decent living by joining
+forces, but for my part, as soon as I have eaten my cat and made a muff
+out of his skin, I am bound to die of hunger.'
+
+These remarks were overheard by Puss, who pretended not to have been
+listening, and said very soberly and seriously:
+
+'There is not the least need for you to worry, Master. All you have to
+do is to give me a pouch, and get a pair of boots made for me so that I
+can walk in the woods. You will find then that your share is not so bad
+after all.'
+
+Now this cat had often shown himself capable of performing cunning
+tricks. When catching rats and mice, for example, he would hide himself
+amongst the meal and hang downwards by the feet as though he were dead.
+His master, therefore, though he did not build too much on what the cat
+had said, felt some hope of being assisted in his miserable plight.
+
+On receiving the boots which he had asked for, Puss gaily pulled them
+on. Then he hung the pouch round his neck, and holding the cords which
+tied it in front of him with his paws, he sallied forth to a warren
+where rabbits abounded. Placing some bran and lettuce in the pouch, he
+stretched himself out and lay as if dead. His plan was to wait until
+some young rabbit, unlearned in worldly wisdom, should come and rummage
+in the pouch for the eatables which he had placed there.
+
+Hardly had he laid himself down when things fell out as he wished. A
+stupid young rabbit went into the pouch, and Master Puss, pulling the
+cords tight, killed him on the instant.
+
+Well satisfied with his capture, Puss departed to the king's palace.
+There he demanded an audience, and was ushered upstairs. He entered the
+royal apartment, and bowed profoundly to the king.
+
+'I bring you, Sire,' said he, 'a rabbit from the warren of the marquis
+of Carabas (such was the title he invented for his master), which I am
+bidden to present to you on his behalf.'
+
+'Tell your master,' replied the king, 'that I thank him, and am pleased
+by his attention.'
+
+[Illustration: '_As though he were dead_']
+
+Another time the cat hid himself in a wheatfield, keeping the mouth of
+his bag wide open. Two partridges ventured in, and by pulling the cords
+tight he captured both of them. Off he went and presented them to the
+king, just as he had done with the rabbit from the warren. His
+Majesty was not less gratified by the brace of partridges, and handed
+the cat a present for himself.
+
+For two or three months Puss went on in this way, every now and again
+taking to the king, as a present from his master, some game which he had
+caught. There came a day when he learned that the king intended to take
+his daughter, who was the most beautiful princess in the world, for an
+excursion along the river bank.
+
+'If you will do as I tell you,' said Puss to his master, 'your fortune
+is made. You have only to go and bathe in the river at the spot which I
+shall point out to you. Leave the rest to me.'
+
+The marquis of Carabas had no idea what plan was afoot, but did as the
+cat had directed.
+
+While he was bathing the king drew near, and Puss at once began to cry
+out at the top of his voice:
+
+'Help! help! the marquis of Carabas is drowning!'
+
+At these shouts the king put his head out of the carriage window. He
+recognised the cat who had so often brought him game, and bade his
+escort go speedily to the help of the marquis of Carabas.
+
+While they were pulling the poor marquis out of the river, Puss
+approached the carriage and explained to the king that while his master
+was bathing robbers had come and taken away his clothes, though he had
+cried 'Stop, thief!' at the top of his voice. As a matter of fact, the
+rascal had hidden them under a big stone. The king at once commanded the
+keepers of his wardrobe to go and select a suit of his finest clothes
+for the marquis of Carabas.
+
+The king received the marquis with many compliments, and as the fine
+clothes which the latter had just put on set off his good looks (for he
+was handsome and comely in appearance), the king's daughter found him
+very much to her liking. Indeed, the marquis of Carabas had not bestowed
+more than two or three respectful but sentimental glances upon her when
+she fell madly in love with him. The king invited him to enter the coach
+and join the party.
+
+[Illustration: '_The cat went on ahead_']
+
+Delighted to see his plan so successfully launched, the cat went on
+ahead, and presently came upon some peasants who were mowing a field.
+
+'Listen, my good fellows,' said he; 'if you do not tell the king that
+the field which you are mowing belongs to the marquis of Carabas, you
+will all be chopped up into little pieces like mince-meat.'
+
+[Illustration: _Puss in Boots_]
+
+In due course the king asked the mowers to whom the field on which they
+were at work belonged.
+
+'It is the property of the marquis of Carabas,' they all cried with one
+voice, for the threat from Puss had frightened them.
+
+'You have inherited a fine estate,' the king remarked to Carabas.
+
+'As you see for yourself, Sire,' replied the marquis; 'this is a meadow
+which never fails to yield an abundant crop each year.'
+
+Still travelling ahead, the cat came upon some harvesters.
+
+'Listen, my good fellows,' said he; 'if you do not declare that every
+one of these fields belongs to the marquis of Carabas, you will all be
+chopped up into little bits like mince-meat.'
+
+The king came by a moment later, and wished to know who was the owner of
+the fields in sight.
+
+'It is the marquis of Carabas,' cried the harvesters.
+
+At this the king was more pleased than ever with the marquis.
+
+Preceding the coach on its journey, the cat made the same threat to all
+whom he met, and the king grew astonished at the great wealth of the
+marquis of Carabas.
+
+Finally Master Puss reached a splendid castle, which belonged to an
+ogre. He was the richest ogre that had ever been known, for all the
+lands through which the king had passed were part of the castle domain.
+
+The cat had taken care to find out who this ogre was, and what powers he
+possessed. He now asked for an interview, declaring that he was
+unwilling to pass so close to the castle without having the honour of
+paying his respects to the owner.
+
+The ogre received him as civilly as an ogre can, and bade him sit down.
+
+'I have been told,' said Puss, 'that you have the power to change
+yourself into any kind of animal--for example, that you can transform
+yourself into a lion or an elephant.'
+
+'That is perfectly true,' said the ogre, curtly; 'and just to prove it
+you shall see me turn into a lion.'
+
+Puss was so frightened on seeing a lion before him that he sprang on to
+the roof--not without difficulty and danger, for his boots were not
+meant for walking on the tiles.
+
+Perceiving presently that the ogre had abandoned his transformation,
+Puss descended, and owned to having been thoroughly frightened.
+
+'I have also been told,' he added, 'but I can scarcely believe it, that
+you have the further power to take the shape of the smallest
+animals--for example, that you can change yourself into a rat or a
+mouse. I confess that to me it seems quite impossible.'
+
+'Impossible?' cried the ogre; 'you shall see!' And in the same moment he
+changed himself into a mouse, which began to run about the floor. No
+sooner did Puss see it than he pounced on it and ate it.
+
+Presently the king came along, and noticing the ogre's beautiful mansion
+desired to visit it. The cat heard the rumble of the coach as it crossed
+the castle drawbridge, and running out to the courtyard cried to the
+king:
+
+'Welcome, your Majesty, to the castle of the marquis of Carabas!'
+
+[Illustration: '_Puss became a personage of great importance_']
+
+'What's that?' cried the king. 'Is this castle also yours, marquis?
+Nothing could be finer than this courtyard and the buildings which I see
+all about. With your permission we will go inside and look round.'
+
+The marquis gave his hand to the young princess, and followed the king
+as he led the way up the staircase. Entering a great hall they found
+there a magnificent collation. This had been prepared by the ogre for
+some friends who were to pay him a visit that very day. The latter had
+not dared to enter when they learned that the king was there.
+
+The king was now quite as charmed with the excellent qualities of the
+marquis of Carabas as his daughter. The latter was completely captivated
+by him. Noting the great wealth of which the marquis was evidently
+possessed, and having quaffed several cups of wine, he turned to his
+host, saying:
+
+'It rests with you, marquis, whether you will be my son-in-law.'
+
+The marquis, bowing very low, accepted the honour which the king
+bestowed upon him. The very same day he married the princess.
+
+Puss became a personage of great importance, and gave up hunting mice,
+except for amusement.
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE TOM THUMB
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a wood-cutter and his wife, who had seven
+children, all boys. The eldest was only ten years old, and the youngest
+was seven. People were astonished that the wood-cutter had had so many
+children in so short a time, but the reason was that his wife delighted
+in children, and never had less than two at a time.
+
+They were very poor, and their seven children were a great tax on them,
+for none of them was yet able to earn his own living. And they were
+troubled also because the youngest was very delicate and could not speak
+a word. They mistook for stupidity what was in reality a mark of good
+sense.
+
+This youngest boy was very little. At his birth he was scarcely bigger
+than a man's thumb, and he was called in consequence 'Little Tom Thumb.'
+The poor child was the scapegoat of the family, and got the blame for
+everything. All the same, he was the sharpest and shrewdest of the
+brothers, and if he spoke but little he listened much.
+
+There came a very bad year, when the famine was so great that these poor
+people resolved to get rid of their family. One evening, after the
+children had gone to bed, the wood-cutter was sitting in the
+chimney-corner with his wife. His heart was heavy with sorrow as he said
+to her:
+
+'It must be plain enough to you that we can no longer feed our
+children. I cannot see them die of hunger before my eyes, and I have
+made up my mind to take them to-morrow to the forest and lose them
+there. It will be easy enough to manage, for while they are amusing
+themselves by collecting faggots we have only to disappear without their
+seeing us.'
+
+'Ah!' cried the wood-cutter's wife, 'do you mean to say you are capable
+of letting your own children be lost?'
+
+In vain did her husband remind her of their terrible poverty; she could
+not agree. She was poor, but she was their mother. In the end, however,
+reflecting what a grief it would be to see them die of hunger, she
+consented to the plan, and went weeping to bed.
+
+Little Tom Thumb had heard all that was said. Having discovered, when in
+bed, that serious talk was going on, he had got up softly, and had
+slipped under his father's stool in order to listen without being seen.
+He went back to bed, but did not sleep a wink for the rest of the night,
+thinking over what he had better do. In the morning he rose very early
+and went to the edge of a brook. There he filled his pockets with little
+white pebbles and came quickly home again.
+
+They all set out, and little Tom Thumb said not a word to his brothers
+of what he knew.
+
+They went into a forest which was so dense that when only ten paces
+apart they could not see each other. The wood-cutter set about his work,
+and the children began to collect twigs to make faggots. Presently the
+father and mother, seeing them busy at their task, edged gradually away,
+and then hurried off in haste along a little narrow footpath.
+
+When the children found they were alone they began to cry and call out
+with all their might. Little Tom Thumb let them cry, being confident
+that they would get back home again. For on the way he had dropped the
+little white stones which he carried in his pocket all along the path.
+
+'Don't be afraid, brothers,' he said presently; 'our parents have left
+us here, but I will take you home again. Just follow me.'
+
+They fell in behind him, and he led them straight to their house by the
+same path which they had taken to the forest. At first they dared not go
+in, but placed themselves against the door, where they could hear
+everything their father and mother were saying.
+
+Now the wood-cutter and his wife had no sooner reached home than the
+lord of the manor sent them a sum of ten crowns which had been owing
+from him for a long time, and of which they had given up hope. This put
+new life into them, for the poor creatures were dying of hunger.
+
+The wood-cutter sent his wife off to the butcher at once, and as it was
+such a long time since they had had anything to eat, she bought three
+times as much meat as a supper for two required.
+
+When they found themselves once more at table, the wood-cutter's wife
+began to lament.
+
+'Alas! where are our poor children now?' she said; 'they could make a
+good meal off what we have over. Mind you, William, it was you who
+wished to lose them: I declared over and over again that we should
+repent it. What are they doing now in that forest? Merciful heavens,
+perhaps the wolves have already eaten them! A monster you must be to
+lose your children in this way!'
+
+[Illustration: '_A good dame opened the door_']
+
+At last the wood-cutter lost patience, for she repeated more than twenty
+times that he would repent it, and that she had told him so. He
+threatened to beat her if she did not hold her tongue.
+
+It was not that the wood-cutter was less grieved than his wife, but she
+browbeat him, and he was of the same opinion as many other people, who
+like a woman to have the knack of saying the right thing, but not the
+trick of being always in the right.
+
+'Alas!' cried the wood-cutter's wife, bursting into tears, 'where are
+now my children, my poor children?'
+
+She said it once so loud that the children at the door heard it plainly.
+Together they all called out:
+
+'Here we are! Here we are!'
+
+She rushed to open the door for them, and exclaimed, as she embraced
+them:
+
+'How glad I am to see you again, dear children! You must be very tired
+and very hungry. And you, Peterkin, how muddy you are--come and let me
+wash you!'
+
+This Peterkin was her eldest son. She loved him more than all the others
+because he was inclined to be red-headed, and she herself was rather
+red.
+
+They sat down at the table and ate with an appetite which it did their
+parents good to see. They all talked at once, as they recounted the
+fears they had felt in the forest.
+
+The good souls were delighted to have their children with them again,
+and the pleasure continued as long as the ten crowns lasted. But when
+the money was all spent they relapsed into their former sadness. They
+again resolved to lose the children, and to lead them much further away
+than they had done the first time, so as to do the job thoroughly. But
+though they were careful not to speak openly about it, their
+conversation did not escape little Tom Thumb, who made up his mind to
+get out of the situation as he had done on the former occasion.
+
+But though he got up early to go and collect his little stones, he found
+the door of the house doubly locked, and he could not carry out his
+plan.
+
+He could not think what to do until the wood-cutter's wife gave them
+each a piece of bread for breakfast. Then it occurred to him to use the
+bread in place of the stones, by throwing crumbs along the path which
+they took, and he tucked it tight in his pocket.
+
+Their parents led them into the thickest and darkest part of the forest,
+and as soon as they were there slipped away by a side-path and left
+them. This did not much trouble little Tom Thumb, for he believed he
+could easily find the way back by means of the bread which he had
+scattered wherever he walked. But to his dismay he could not discover a
+single crumb. The birds had come along and eaten it all.
+
+They were in sore trouble now, for with every step they strayed further,
+and became more and more entangled in the forest. Night came on and a
+terrific wind arose, which filled them with dreadful alarm. On every
+side they seemed to hear nothing but the howling of wolves which were
+coming to eat them up. They dared not speak or move.
+
+In addition it began to rain so heavily that they were soaked to the
+skin. At every step they tripped and fell on the wet ground, getting up
+again covered with mud, not knowing what to do with their hands.
+
+Little Tom Thumb climbed to the top of a tree, in an endeavour to see
+something. Looking all about him he espied, far away on the other side
+of the forest, a little light like that of a candle. He got down from
+the tree, and was terribly disappointed to find that when he was on the
+ground he could see nothing at all.
+
+After they had walked some distance in the direction of the light,
+however, he caught a glimpse of it again as they were nearing the edge
+of the forest. At last they reached the house where the light was
+burning, but not without much anxiety, for every time they had to go
+down into a hollow they lost sight of it.
+
+They knocked at the door, and a good dame opened to them. She asked them
+what they wanted.
+
+Little Tom Thumb explained that they were poor children who had lost
+their way in the forest, and begged her, for pity's sake, to give them a
+night's lodging.
+
+Noticing what bonny children they all were, the woman began to cry.
+
+'Alas, my poor little dears!' she said; 'you do not know the place you
+have come to! Have you not heard that this is the house of an ogre who
+eats little children?'
+
+'Alas, madam!' answered little Tom Thumb, trembling like all the rest of
+his brothers, 'what shall we do? One thing is very certain: if you do
+not take us in, the wolves of the forest will devour us this very night,
+and that being so we should prefer to be eaten by your husband. Perhaps
+he may take pity on us, if you will plead for us.'
+
+The ogre's wife, thinking she might be able to hide them from her
+husband till the next morning, allowed them to come in, and put them to
+warm near a huge fire, where a whole sheep was cooking on the spit for
+the ogre's supper.
+
+Just as they were beginning to get warm they heard two or three great
+bangs at the door. The ogre had returned. His wife hid them quickly
+under the bed and ran to open the door.
+
+The first thing the ogre did was to ask whether supper was ready and the
+wine opened. Then without ado he sat down to table. Blood was still
+dripping from the sheep, but it seemed all the better to him for that.
+He sniffed to right and left, declaring that he could smell fresh flesh.
+
+'Indeed!' said his wife. 'It must be the calf which I have just dressed
+that you smell.'
+
+'_I smell fresh flesh_, I tell you,' shouted the ogre, eyeing his wife
+askance; 'and there is something going on here which I do not
+understand.'
+
+With these words he got up from the table and went straight to the bed.
+
+'Aha!' said he; 'so this is the way you deceive me, wicked woman that
+you are! I have a very great mind to eat you too! It's lucky for you
+that you are old and tough! I am expecting three ogre friends of mine to
+pay me a visit in the next few days, and here is a tasty dish which will
+just come in nicely for them!'
+
+One after another he dragged the children out from under the bed.
+
+[Illustration: '_He could smell fresh flesh_']
+
+The poor things threw themselves on their knees, imploring mercy; but
+they had to deal with the most cruel of all ogres. Far from pitying
+them, he was already devouring them with his eyes, and repeating to
+his wife that when cooked with a good sauce they would make most dainty
+morsels.
+
+Off he went to get a large knife, which he sharpened, as he drew near
+the poor children, on a long stone in his left hand.
+
+He had already seized one of them when his wife called out to him. 'What
+do you want to do it now for?' she said; 'will it not be time enough
+to-morrow?'
+
+'Hold your tongue,' replied the ogre; 'they will be all the more
+tender.'
+
+'But you have such a lot of meat,' rejoined his wife; 'look, there are a
+calf, two sheep, and half a pig.'
+
+'You are right,' said the ogre; 'give them a good supper to fatten them
+up, and take them to bed.'
+
+The good woman was overjoyed and brought them a splendid supper; but the
+poor little wretches were so cowed with fright that they could not eat.
+
+As for the ogre, he went back to his drinking, very pleased to have such
+good entertainment for his friends. He drank a dozen cups more than
+usual, and was obliged to go off to bed early, for the wine had gone
+somewhat to his head.
+
+Now the ogre had seven daughters who as yet were only children. These
+little ogresses all had the most lovely complexions, for, like their
+father, they ate fresh meat. But they had little round grey eyes,
+crooked noses, and very large mouths, with long and exceedingly sharp
+teeth, set far apart. They were not so very wicked at present, but they
+showed great promise, for already they were in the habit of killing
+little children to suck their blood.
+
+They had gone to bed early, and were all seven in a great bed, each with
+a crown of gold upon her head.
+
+In the same room there was another bed, equally large. Into this the
+ogre's wife put the seven little boys, and then went to sleep herself
+beside her husband.
+
+Little Tom Thumb was fearful lest the ogre should suddenly regret that
+he had not cut the throats of himself and his brothers the evening
+before. Having noticed that the ogre's daughters all had golden crowns
+upon their heads, he got up in the middle of the night and softly placed
+his own cap and those of his brothers on their heads. Before doing so,
+he carefully removed the crowns of gold, putting them on his own and his
+brothers' heads. In this way, if the ogre were to feel like slaughtering
+them that night he would mistake the girls for the boys, and _vice
+versa_.
+
+Things fell out just as he had anticipated. The ogre, waking up at
+midnight, regretted that he had postponed till the morrow what he could
+have done overnight. Jumping briskly out of bed, he seized his knife,
+crying: 'Now then, let's see how the little rascals are; we won't make
+the same mistake twice!'
+
+He groped his way up to his daughters' room, and approached the bed in
+which were the seven little boys. All were sleeping, with the exception
+of little Tom Thumb, who was numb with fear when he felt the ogre's
+hand, as it touched the head of each brother in turn, reach his own.
+
+'Upon my word,' said the ogre, as he felt the golden crowns; 'a nice job
+I was going to make of it! It is very evident that I drank a little too
+much last night!'
+
+Forthwith he went to the bed where his daughters were, and here he felt
+the little boys' caps.
+
+'Aha, here are the little scamps!' he cried; 'now for a smart bit of
+work!'
+
+[Illustration: '_He set off over the countryside_']
+
+With these words, and without a moment's hesitation, he cut the throats
+of his seven daughters, and well satisfied with his work went back to
+bed beside his wife.
+
+No sooner did little Tom Thumb hear him snoring than he woke up his
+brothers, bidding them dress quickly and follow him. They crept quietly
+down to the garden, and jumped from the wall. All through the night they
+ran in haste and terror, without the least idea of where they were
+going.
+
+When the ogre woke up he said to his wife:
+
+'Go upstairs and dress those little rascals who were here last night.'
+
+The ogre's wife was astonished at her husband's kindness, never doubting
+that he meant her to go and put on their clothes. She went upstairs, and
+was horrified to discover her seven daughters bathed in blood, with
+their throats cut.
+
+She fell at once into a swoon, which is the way of most women in similar
+circumstances.
+
+The ogre, thinking his wife was very long in carrying out his orders,
+went up to help her, and was no less astounded than his wife at the
+terrible spectacle which confronted him.
+
+'What's this I have done?' he exclaimed. 'I will be revenged on the
+wretches, and quickly, too!'
+
+He threw a jugful of water over his wife's face, and having brought her
+round ordered her to fetch his seven-league boots, so that he might
+overtake the children.
+
+He set off over the countryside, and strode far and wide until he came
+to the road along which the poor children were travelling. They were not
+more than a few yards from their home when they saw the ogre striding
+from hill-top to hill-top, and stepping over rivers as though they were
+merely tiny streams.
+
+Little Tom Thumb espied near at hand a cave in some rocks. In this he
+hid his brothers, and himself followed them in, while continuing to keep
+a watchful eye upon the movements of the ogre.
+
+Now the ogre was feeling very tired after so much fruitless marching
+(for seven-league boots are very fatiguing to their wearer), and felt
+like taking a little rest. As it happened, he went and sat down on the
+very rock beneath which the little boys were hiding. Overcome with
+weariness, he had not sat there long before he fell asleep and began to
+snore so terribly that the poor children were as frightened as when he
+had held his great knife to their throats.
+
+Little Tom Thumb was not so alarmed. He told his brothers to flee at
+once to their home while the ogre was still sleeping soundly, and not to
+worry about him. They took his advice and ran quickly home.
+
+Little Tom Thumb now approached the ogre and gently pulled off his
+boots, which he at once donned himself. The boots were very heavy and
+very large, but being enchanted boots they had the faculty of growing
+larger or smaller according to the leg they had to suit. Consequently
+they always fitted as though they had been made for the wearer.
+
+He went straight to the ogre's house, where he found the ogre's wife
+weeping over her murdered daughters.
+
+[Illustration: '_Laden with all the ogre's wealth_']
+
+'Your husband,' said little Tom Thumb, 'is in great danger, for he has
+been captured by a gang of thieves, and the latter have sworn to kill
+him if he does not hand over all his gold and silver. Just as they had
+the dagger at his throat, he caught sight of me and begged me to come to
+you and thus rescue him from his terrible plight. You are to give me
+everything of value which he possesses, without keeping back a thing,
+otherwise he will be slain without mercy. As the matter is urgent he
+wished me to wear his seven-league boots, to save time, and also to
+prove to you that I am no impostor.'
+
+The ogre's wife, in great alarm, gave him immediately all that she had,
+for although this was an ogre who devoured little children, he was by no
+means a bad husband.
+
+Little Tom Thumb, laden with all the ogre's wealth, forthwith repaired
+to his father's house, where he was received with great joy.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Many people do not agree about this last adventure, and pretend that
+little Tom Thumb never committed this theft from the ogre, and only took
+the seven-league boots, about which he had no compunction, since they
+were only used by the ogre for catching little children. These folks
+assert that they are in a position to know, having been guests at the
+wood-cutter's cottage. They further say that when little Tom Thumb had
+put on the ogre's boots, he went off to the Court, where he knew there
+was great anxiety concerning the result of a battle which was being
+fought by an army two hundred leagues away.
+
+They say that he went to the king and undertook, if desired, to bring
+news of the army before the day was out; and that the king promised him
+a large sum of money if he could carry out his project.
+
+Little Tom Thumb brought news that very night, and this first errand
+having brought him into notice, he made as much money as he wished. For
+not only did the king pay him handsomely to carry orders to the army,
+but many ladies at the court gave him anything he asked to get them news
+of their lovers, and this was his greatest source of income. He was
+occasionally entrusted by wives with letters to their husbands, but they
+paid him so badly, and this branch of the business brought him in so
+little, that he did not even bother to reckon what he made from it.
+
+After acting as courier for some time, and amassing great wealth
+thereby, little Tom Thumb returned to his father's house, and was there
+greeted with the greatest joy imaginable. He made all his family
+comfortable, buying newly-created positions for his father and brothers.
+In this way he set them all up, not forgetting at the same time to look
+well after himself.
+
+
+
+
+THE FAIRIES
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a widow with two daughters. The elder was
+often mistaken for her mother, so like her was she both in nature and in
+looks; parent and child being so disagreeable and arrogant that no one
+could live with them.
+
+The younger girl, who took after her father in the gentleness and
+sweetness of her disposition, was also one of the prettiest girls
+imaginable. The mother doted on the elder daughter--naturally enough,
+since she resembled her so closely--and disliked the younger one as
+intensely. She made the latter live in the kitchen and work hard from
+morning till night.
+
+One of the poor child's many duties was to go twice a day and draw water
+from a spring a good half-mile away, bringing it back in a large
+pitcher. One day when she was at the spring an old woman came up and
+begged for a drink.
+
+'Why, certainly, good mother,' the pretty lass replied. Rinsing her
+pitcher, she drew some water from the cleanest part of the spring and
+handed it to the dame, lifting up the jug so that she might drink the
+more easily.
+
+Now this old woman was a fairy, who had taken the form of a poor village
+dame to see just how far the girl's good nature would go. 'You are so
+pretty,' she said, when she had finished drinking, 'and so polite, that
+I am determined to bestow a gift upon you. This is the boon I grant
+you: with every word that you utter there shall fall from your mouth
+either a flower or a precious stone.'
+
+When the girl reached home she was scolded by her mother for being so
+long in coming back from the spring.
+
+'I am sorry to have been so long, mother,' said the poor child.
+
+As she spoke these words there fell from her mouth three roses, three
+pearls, and three diamonds.
+
+'What's this?' cried her mother; 'did I see pearls and diamonds dropping
+out of your mouth? What does this mean, dear daughter?' (This was the
+first time she had ever addressed her daughter affectionately.)
+
+The poor child told a simple tale of what had happened, and in speaking
+scattered diamonds right and left.
+
+'Really,' said her mother, 'I must send my own child there. Come here,
+Fanchon; look what comes out of your sister's mouth whenever she speaks!
+Wouldn't you like to be able to do the same? All you have to do is to go
+and draw some water at the spring, and when a poor woman asks you for a
+drink, give it her very nicely.'
+
+'Oh, indeed!' replied the ill-mannered girl; 'don't you wish you may see
+me going there!'
+
+'I tell you that you are to go,' said her mother, 'and to go this
+instant.'
+
+[Illustration: '_Lifting up the jug so that she might drink the more
+easily_']
+
+Very sulkily the girl went off, taking with her the best silver flagon
+in the house. No sooner had she reached the spring than she saw a lady,
+magnificently attired, who came towards her from the forest, and asked
+for a drink. This was the same fairy who had appeared to her sister,
+masquerading now as a princess in order to see how far this girl's
+ill-nature would carry her.
+
+'Do you think I have come here just to get you a drink?' said the
+loutish damsel, arrogantly. 'I suppose you think I brought a silver
+flagon here specially for that purpose--it's so likely, isn't it? Drink
+from the spring, if you want to!'
+
+'You are not very polite,' said the fairy, displaying no sign of anger.
+'Well, in return for your lack of courtesy I decree that for every word
+you utter a snake or a toad shall drop out of your mouth.'
+
+The moment her mother caught sight of her coming back she cried out,
+'Well, daughter?'
+
+'Well, mother?' replied the rude girl. As she spoke a viper and a toad
+were spat out of her mouth.
+
+'Gracious heavens!' cried her mother; 'what do I see? Her sister is the
+cause of this, and I will make her pay for it!'
+
+Off she ran to thrash the poor child, but the latter fled away and hid
+in the forest near by. The king's son met her on his way home from
+hunting, and noticing how pretty she was inquired what she was doing all
+alone, and what she was weeping about.
+
+'Alas, sir,' she cried; 'my mother has driven me from home!'
+
+As she spoke the prince saw four or five pearls and as many diamonds
+fall from her mouth. He begged her to tell him how this came about, and
+she told him the whole story.
+
+The king's son fell in love with her, and reflecting that such a gift as
+had been bestowed upon her was worth more than any dowry which another
+maiden might bring him, he took her to the palace of his royal father,
+and there married her.
+
+As for the sister, she made herself so hateful that even her mother
+drove her out of the house. Nowhere could the wretched girl find any one
+who would take her in, and at last she lay down in the forest and died.
+
+
+
+
+RICKY OF THE TUFT
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a queen who bore a son so ugly and misshapen
+that for some time it was doubtful if he would have human form at all.
+But a fairy who was present at his birth promised that he should have
+plenty of brains, and added that by virtue of the gift which she had
+just bestowed upon him he would be able to impart to the person whom he
+should love best the same degree of intelligence which he possessed
+himself.
+
+This somewhat consoled the poor queen, who was greatly disappointed at
+having brought into the world such a hideous brat. And indeed, no sooner
+did the child begin to speak than his sayings proved to be full of
+shrewdness, while all that he did was somehow so clever that he charmed
+every one.
+
+I forgot to mention that when he was born he had a little tuft of hair
+upon his head. For this reason he was called Ricky of the Tuft, Ricky
+being his family name.
+
+Some seven or eight years later the queen of a neighbouring kingdom gave
+birth to twin daughters. The first one to come into the world was more
+beautiful than the dawn, and the queen was so overjoyed that it was
+feared her great excitement might do her some harm. The same fairy who
+had assisted at the birth of Ricky of the Tuft was present, and, in
+order to moderate the transports of the queen she declared that this
+little princess would have no sense at all, and would be as stupid as
+she was beautiful.
+
+The queen was deeply mortified, and a moment or two later her chagrin
+became greater still, for the second daughter proved to be extremely
+ugly.
+
+'Do not be distressed, Madam,' said the fairy; 'your daughter shall be
+recompensed in another way. She shall have so much good sense that her
+lack of beauty will scarcely be noticed.'
+
+'May Heaven grant it!' said the queen; 'but is there no means by which
+the elder, who is so beautiful, can be endowed with some intelligence?'
+
+'In the matter of brains I can do nothing for her, Madam,' said the
+fairy, 'but as regards beauty I can do a great deal. As there is nothing
+I would not do to please you, I will bestow upon her the power of making
+beautiful any person who shall greatly please her.'
+
+As the two princesses grew up their perfections increased, and
+everywhere the beauty of the elder and the wit of the younger were the
+subject of common talk.
+
+It is equally true that their defects also increased as they became
+older. The younger grew uglier every minute, and the elder daily became
+more stupid. Either she answered nothing at all when spoken to, or
+replied with some idiotic remark. At the same time she was so awkward
+that she could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece without
+breaking one of them, nor drink a glass of water without spilling half
+of it over her clothes.
+
+[Illustration: '_She could not set four china vases on the mantelpiece
+without breaking one of them_']
+
+Now although the elder girl possessed the great advantage which beauty
+always confers upon youth, she was nevertheless outshone in almost all
+company by her younger sister. At first every one gathered round the
+beauty to see and admire her, but very soon they were all attracted by
+the graceful and easy conversation of the clever one. In a very short
+time the elder girl would be left entirely alone, while everybody
+clustered round her sister.
+
+[Illustration: '_Graceful and easy conversation_']
+
+The elder princess was not so stupid that she was not aware of this, and
+she would willingly have surrendered all her beauty for half her
+sister's cleverness. Sometimes she was ready to die of grief, for the
+queen, though a sensible woman, could not refrain from occasionally
+reproaching her with her stupidity.
+
+The princess had retired one day to a wood to bemoan her misfortune,
+when she saw approaching her an ugly little man, of very disagreeable
+appearance, but clad in magnificent attire.
+
+This was the young prince Ricky of the Tuft. He had fallen in love with
+her portrait, which was everywhere to be seen, and had left his father's
+kingdom in order to have the pleasure of seeing and talking to her.
+
+Delighted to meet her thus alone, he approached with every mark of
+respect and politeness. But while he paid her the usual compliments he
+noticed that she was plunged in melancholy.
+
+'I cannot understand, madam,' he said, 'how any one with your beauty can
+be so sad as you appear. I can boast of having seen many fair ladies,
+and I declare that none of them could compare in beauty with you.'
+
+'It is very kind of you to say so, sir,' answered the princess; and
+stopped there, at a loss what to say further.
+
+'Beauty,' said Ricky, 'is of such great advantage that everything else
+can be disregarded; and I do not see that the possessor of it can have
+anything much to grieve about.'
+
+To this the princess replied:
+
+'I would rather be as plain as you are and have some sense, than be as
+beautiful as I am and at the same time stupid.'
+
+'Nothing more clearly displays good sense, madam, than a belief that one
+is not possessed of it. It follows, therefore, that the more one has,
+the more one fears it to be wanting.'
+
+'I am not sure about that,' said the princess; 'but I know only too well
+that I am very stupid, and this is the reason of the misery which is
+nearly killing me.'
+
+'If that is all that troubles you, madam, I can easily put an end to
+your suffering.'
+
+'How will you manage that?' said the princess.
+
+'I am able, madam,' said Ricky of the Tuft, 'to bestow as much good
+sense as it is possible to possess on the person whom I love the most.
+You are that person, and it therefore rests with you to decide whether
+you will acquire so much intelligence. The only condition is that you
+shall consent to marry me.'
+
+The princess was dumbfounded, and remained silent.
+
+'I can see,' pursued Ricky, 'that this suggestion perplexes you, and I
+am not surprised. But I will give you a whole year to make up your mind
+to it.'
+
+The princess had so little sense, and at the same time desired it so
+ardently, that she persuaded herself the end of this year would never
+come. So she accepted the offer which had been made to her. No sooner
+had she given her word to Ricky that she would marry him within one year
+from that very day, than she felt a complete change come over her. She
+found herself able to say all that she wished with the greatest ease,
+and to say it in an elegant, finished, and natural manner. She at once
+engaged Ricky in a brilliant and lengthy conversation, holding her own
+so well that Ricky feared he had given her a larger share of sense than
+he had retained for himself.
+
+On her return to the palace amazement reigned throughout the Court at
+such a sudden and extraordinary change. Whereas formerly they had been
+accustomed to hear her give vent to silly, pert remarks, they now heard
+her express herself sensibly and very wittily.
+
+The entire Court was overjoyed. The only person not too pleased was the
+younger sister, for now that she had no longer the advantage over the
+elder in wit, she seemed nothing but a little fright in comparison.
+
+The king himself often took her advice, and several times held his
+councils in her apartment.
+
+The news of this change spread abroad, and the princes of the
+neighbouring kingdoms made many attempts to captivate her. Almost all
+asked her in marriage. But she found none with enough sense, and so she
+listened to all without promising herself to any.
+
+At last came one who was so powerful, so rich, so witty, and so
+handsome, that she could not help being somewhat attracted by him. Her
+father noticed this, and told her she could make her own choice of a
+husband: she had only to declare herself.
+
+Now the more sense one has, the more difficult it is to make up one's
+mind in an affair of this kind. After thanking her father, therefore,
+she asked for a little time to think it over.
+
+In order to ponder quietly what she had better do she went to walk in a
+wood--the very one, as it happened, where she encountered Ricky of the
+Tuft.
+
+While she walked, deep in thought, she heard beneath her feet a thudding
+sound, as though many people were running busily to and fro. Listening
+more attentively she heard voices. 'Bring me that boiler,' said one;
+then another--'Put some wood on that fire!'
+
+At that moment the ground opened, and she saw below what appeared to be
+a large kitchen full of cooks and scullions, and all the train of
+attendants which the preparation of a great banquet involves. A gang of
+some twenty or thirty spit-turners emerged and took up their positions
+round a very long table in a path in the wood. They all wore their
+cook's caps on one side, and with their basting implements in their
+hands they kept time together as they worked, to the lilt of a melodious
+song.
+
+The princess was astonished by this spectacle, and asked for whom their
+work was being done.
+
+'For Prince Ricky of the Tuft, madam,' said the foreman of the gang;
+'his wedding is to-morrow.'
+
+At this the princess was more surprised than ever. In a flash she
+remembered that it was a year to the very day since she had promised to
+marry Prince Ricky of the Tuft, and was taken aback by the recollection.
+The reason she had forgotten was that when she made the promise she was
+still without sense, and with the acquisition of that intelligence which
+the prince had bestowed upon her, all memory of her former stupidities
+had been blotted out.
+
+She had not gone another thirty paces when Ricky of the Tuft appeared
+before her, gallant and resplendent, like a prince upon his wedding day.
+
+'As you see, madam,' he said, 'I keep my word to the minute. I do not
+doubt that you have come to keep yours, and by giving me your hand to
+make me the happiest of men.'
+
+'I will be frank with you,' replied the princess. 'I have not yet made
+up my mind on the point, and I am afraid I shall never be able to take
+the decision you desire.'
+
+'You astonish me, madam,' said Ricky of the Tuft.
+
+'I can well believe it,' said the princess, 'and undoubtedly, if I had
+to deal with a clown, or a man who lacked good sense, I should feel
+myself very awkwardly situated. "A princess must keep her word," he
+would say, "and you must marry me because you promised to!" But I am
+speaking to a man of the world, of the greatest good sense, and I am
+sure that he will listen to reason. As you are aware, I could not make
+up my mind to marry you even when I was entirely without sense; how can
+you expect that to-day, possessing the intelligence you bestowed on me,
+which makes me still more difficult to please than formerly, I should
+take a decision which I could not take then? If you wished so much to
+marry me, you were very wrong to relieve me of my stupidity, and to let
+me see more clearly than I did.'
+
+'If a man who lacked good sense,' replied Ricky of the Tuft, 'would be
+justified, as you have just said, in reproaching you for breaking your
+word, why do you expect, madam, that I should act differently where the
+happiness of my whole life is at stake? Is it reasonable that people who
+have sense should be treated worse than those who have none? Would you
+maintain that for a moment--you, who so markedly have sense, and desired
+so ardently to have it? But, pardon me, let us get to the facts. With
+the exception of my ugliness, is there anything about me which
+displeases you? Are you dissatisfied with my breeding, my brains, my
+disposition, or my manners?'
+
+'In no way,' replied the princess; 'I like exceedingly all that you have
+displayed of the qualities you mention.'
+
+'In that case,' said Ricky of the Tuft, 'happiness will be mine, for it
+lies in your power to make me the most attractive of men.'
+
+'How can that be done?' asked the princess.
+
+[Illustration: _Ricky of the Tuft_]
+
+'It will happen of itself,' replied Ricky of the Tuft, 'if you love me
+well enough to wish that it be so. To remove your doubts, madam, let me
+tell you that the same fairy who on the day of my birth bestowed upon
+me the power of endowing with intelligence the woman of my choice, gave
+to you also the power of endowing with beauty the man whom you should
+love, and on whom you should wish to confer this favour.'
+
+'If that is so,' said the princess, 'I wish with all my heart that you
+may become the handsomest and most attractive prince in the world, and I
+give you without reserve the boon which it is mine to bestow.'
+
+No sooner had the princess uttered these words than Ricky of the Tuft
+appeared before her eyes as the handsomest, most graceful and attractive
+man that she had ever set eyes on.
+
+Some people assert that this was not the work of fairy enchantment, but
+that love alone brought about the transformation. They say that the
+princess, as she mused upon her lover's constancy, upon his good sense,
+and his many admirable qualities of heart and head, grew blind to the
+deformity of his body and the ugliness of his face; that his hump back
+seemed no more than was natural in a man who could make the courtliest
+of bows, and that the dreadful limp which had formerly distressed her
+now betokened nothing more than a certain diffidence and charming
+deference of manner. They say further that she found his eyes shine all
+the brighter for their squint, and that this defect in them was to her
+but a sign of passionate love; while his great red nose she found nought
+but martial and heroic.
+
+However that may be, the princess promised to marry him on the spot,
+provided only that he could obtain the consent of her royal father.
+
+The king knew Ricky of the Tuft to be a prince both wise and witty, and
+on learning of his daughter's regard for him, he accepted him with
+pleasure as a son-in-law.
+
+The wedding took place upon the morrow, just as Ricky of the Tuft had
+foreseen, and in accordance with the arrangements he had long ago put in
+train.
+
+
+
+
+CINDERELLA
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a worthy man who married for his second wife
+the haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been seen. She had two
+daughters, who possessed their mother's temper and resembled her in
+everything. Her husband, on the other hand, had a young daughter, who
+was of an exceptionally sweet and gentle nature. She got this from her
+mother, who had been the nicest person in the world.
+
+The wedding was no sooner over than the stepmother began to display her
+bad temper. She could not endure the excellent qualities of this young
+girl, for they made her own daughters appear more hateful than ever. She
+thrust upon her all the meanest tasks about the house. It was she who
+had to clean the plates and the stairs, and sweep out the rooms of the
+mistress of the house and her daughters. She slept on a wretched
+mattress in a garret at the top of the house, while the sisters had
+rooms with parquet flooring, and beds of the most fashionable style,
+with mirrors in which they could see themselves from top to toe.
+
+The poor girl endured everything patiently, not daring to complain to
+her father. The latter would have scolded her, because he was entirely
+ruled by his wife. When she had finished her work she used to sit
+amongst the cinders in the corner of the chimney, and it was from this
+habit that she came to be commonly known as Cinder-slut. The younger of
+the two sisters, who was not quite so spiteful as the elder, called her
+Cinderella. But her wretched clothes did not prevent Cinderella from
+being a hundred times more beautiful than her sisters, for all their
+resplendent garments.
+
+It happened that the king's son gave a ball, and he invited all persons
+of high degree. The two young ladies were invited amongst others, for
+they cut a considerable figure in the country. Not a little pleased were
+they, and the question of what clothes and what mode of dressing the
+hair would become them best took up all their time. And all this meant
+fresh trouble for Cinderella, for it was she who went over her sisters'
+linen and ironed their ruffles. They could talk of nothing else but the
+fashions in clothes.
+
+'For my part,' said the elder, 'I shall wear my dress of red velvet,
+with the Honiton lace.'
+
+'I have only my everyday petticoat,' said the younger, 'but to make up
+for it I shall wear my cloak with the golden flowers and my necklace of
+diamonds, which are not so bad.'
+
+They sent for a good hairdresser to arrange their double-frilled caps,
+and bought patches at the best shop.
+
+They summoned Cinderella and asked her advice, for she had good taste.
+Cinderella gave them the best possible suggestions, and even offered to
+dress their hair, to which they gladly agreed.
+
+While she was thus occupied they said:
+
+'Cinderella, would you not like to go to the ball?'
+
+'Ah, but you fine young ladies are laughing at me. It would be no place
+for me.'
+
+[Illustration: '_The haughtiest, proudest woman that had ever been
+seen_']
+
+'That is very true, people would laugh to see a cinder-slut in the
+ballroom.'
+
+Any one else but Cinderella would have done their hair amiss, but she
+was good-natured, and she finished them off to perfection. They were so
+excited in their glee that for nearly two days they ate nothing. They
+broke more than a dozen laces through drawing their stays tight in order
+to make their waists more slender, and they were perpetually in front of
+a mirror.
+
+At last the happy day arrived. Away they went, Cinderella watching them
+as long as she could keep them in sight. When she could no longer see
+them she began to cry. Her godmother found her in tears, and asked what
+was troubling her.
+
+'I should like--I should like----'
+
+She was crying so bitterly that she could not finish the sentence.
+
+Said her godmother, who was a fairy:
+
+'You would like to go to the ball, would you not?'
+
+'Ah, yes,' said Cinderella, sighing.
+
+'Well, well,' said her godmother, 'promise to be a good girl and I will
+arrange for you to go.'
+
+She took Cinderella into her room and said:
+
+'Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.'
+
+Cinderella went at once and gathered the finest that she could find.
+This she brought to her godmother, wondering how a pumpkin could help in
+taking her to the ball.
+
+Her godmother scooped it out, and when only the rind was left, struck it
+with her wand. Instantly the pumpkin was changed into a beautiful coach,
+gilded all over.
+
+Then she went and looked in the mouse-trap, where she found six mice
+all alive. She told Cinderella to lift the door of the mouse-trap a
+little, and as each mouse came out she gave it a tap with her wand,
+whereupon it was transformed into a fine horse. So that here was a fine
+team of six dappled mouse-grey horses.
+
+But she was puzzled to know how to provide a coachman.
+
+'I will go and see,' said Cinderella, 'if there is not a rat in the
+rat-trap. We could make a coachman of him.'
+
+'Quite right,' said her godmother, 'go and see.'
+
+Cinderella brought in the rat-trap, which contained three big rats. The
+fairy chose one specially on account of his elegant whiskers.
+
+As soon as she had touched him he turned into a fat coachman with the
+finest moustachios that ever were seen.
+
+'Now go into the garden and bring me the six lizards which you will find
+behind the water-butt.'
+
+No sooner had they been brought than the godmother turned them into six
+lackeys, who at once climbed up behind the coach in their braided
+liveries, and hung on there as if they had never done anything else all
+their lives.
+
+Then said the fairy godmother:
+
+'Well, there you have the means of going to the ball. Are you
+satisfied?'
+
+'Oh, yes, but am I to go like this in my ugly clothes?'
+
+Her godmother merely touched her with her wand, and on the instant her
+clothes were changed into garments of gold and silver cloth, bedecked
+with jewels. After that her godmother gave her a pair of glass slippers,
+the prettiest in the world.
+
+[Illustration: '_Her godmother found her in tears_']
+
+Thus altered, she entered the coach. Her godmother bade her not to stay
+beyond midnight whatever happened, warning her that if she remained
+at the ball a moment longer, her coach would again become a pumpkin, her
+horses mice, and her lackeys lizards, while her old clothes would
+reappear upon her once more.
+
+She promised her godmother that she would not fail to leave the ball
+before midnight, and away she went, beside herself with delight.
+
+[Illustration: '_Away she went_']
+
+The king's son, when he was told of the arrival of a great princess whom
+nobody knew, went forth to receive her. He handed her down from the
+coach, and led her into the hall where the company was assembled. At
+once there fell a great silence. The dancers stopped, the violins played
+no more, so rapt was the attention which everybody bestowed upon the
+superb beauty of the unknown guest. Everywhere could be heard in
+confused whispers:
+
+'Oh, how beautiful she is!'
+
+The king, old man as he was, could not take his eyes off her, and
+whispered to the queen that it was many a long day since he had seen any
+one so beautiful and charming.
+
+All the ladies were eager to scrutinise her clothes and the dressing of
+her hair, being determined to copy them on the morrow, provided they
+could find materials so fine, and tailors so clever.
+
+The king's son placed her in the seat of honour, and at once begged the
+privilege of being her partner in a dance. Such was the grace with which
+she danced that the admiration of all was increased.
+
+A magnificent supper was served, but the young prince could eat nothing,
+so taken up was he with watching her. She went and sat beside her
+sisters, and bestowed numberless attentions upon them. She made them
+share with her the oranges and lemons which the king had given
+her--greatly to their astonishment, for they did not recognise her.
+
+While they were talking, Cinderella heard the clock strike a quarter to
+twelve. She at once made a profound curtsey to the company, and departed
+as quickly as she could.
+
+As soon as she was home again she sought out her godmother, and having
+thanked her, declared that she wished to go upon the morrow once more to
+the ball, because the king's son had invited her.
+
+While she was busy telling her godmother all that had happened at the
+ball, her two sisters knocked at the door. Cinderella let them in.
+
+'What a long time you have been in coming!' she declared, rubbing her
+eyes and stretching herself as if she had only just awakened. In real
+truth she had not for a moment wished to sleep since they had left.
+
+[Illustration: '_She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn_']
+
+'If you had been at the ball,' said one of the sisters, 'you would not
+be feeling weary. There came a most beautiful princess, the most
+beautiful that has ever been seen, and she bestowed numberless
+attentions upon us, and gave us her oranges and lemons.'
+
+Cinderella was overjoyed. She asked them the name of the princess, but
+they replied that no one knew it, and that the king's son was so
+distressed that he would give anything in the world to know who she was.
+
+Cinderella smiled, and said she must have been beautiful indeed.
+
+'Oh, how lucky you are. Could I not manage to see her? Oh, please,
+Javotte, lend me the yellow dress which you wear every day.'
+
+'Indeed!' said Javotte, 'that is a fine idea. Lend my dress to a grubby
+cinder-slut like you--you must think me mad!'
+
+Cinderella had expected this refusal. She was in no way upset, for she
+would have been very greatly embarrassed had her sister been willing to
+lend the dress.
+
+The next day the two sisters went to the ball, and so did Cinderella,
+even more splendidly attired than the first time.
+
+The king's son was always at her elbow, and paid her endless
+compliments.
+
+The young girl enjoyed herself so much that she forgot her godmother's
+bidding completely, and when the first stroke of midnight fell upon her
+ears, she thought it was no more than eleven o'clock.
+
+She rose and fled as nimbly as a fawn. The prince followed her, but
+could not catch her. She let fall one of her glass slippers, however,
+and this the prince picked up with tender care.
+
+When Cinderella reached home she was out of breath, without coach,
+without lackeys, and in her shabby clothes. Nothing remained of all her
+splendid clothes save one of the little slippers, the fellow to the one
+which she had let fall.
+
+Inquiries were made of the palace doorkeepers as to whether they had
+seen a princess go out, but they declared they had seen no one leave
+except a young girl, very ill-clad, who looked more like a peasant than
+a young lady.
+
+When her two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderella asked them if
+they had again enjoyed themselves, and if the beautiful lady had been
+there. They told her that she was present, but had fled away when
+midnight sounded, and in such haste that she had let fall one of her
+little glass slippers, the prettiest thing in the world. They added that
+the king's son, who picked it up, had done nothing but gaze at it for
+the rest of the ball, from which it was plain that he was deeply in love
+with its beautiful owner.
+
+They spoke the truth. A few days later, the king's son caused a
+proclamation to be made by trumpeters, that he would take for wife the
+owner of the foot which the slipper would fit.
+
+They tried it first on the princesses, then on the duchesses and the
+whole of the Court, but in vain. Presently they brought it to the home
+of the two sisters, who did all they could to squeeze a foot into the
+slipper. This, however, they could not manage.
+
+Cinderella was looking on and recognised her slipper:
+
+'Let me see,' she cried, laughingly, 'if it will not fit me.'
+
+[Illustration: '_They tried it first on the princesses_']
+
+Her sisters burst out laughing, and began to gibe at her, but the
+equerry who was trying on the slipper looked closely at Cinderella.
+Observing that she was very beautiful he declared that the claim was
+quite a fair one, and that his orders were to try the slipper on every
+maiden. He bade Cinderella sit down, and on putting the slipper to her
+little foot he perceived that the latter slid in without trouble, and
+was moulded to its shape like wax.
+
+Great was the astonishment of the two sisters at this, and greater still
+when Cinderella drew from her pocket the other little slipper. This she
+likewise drew on.
+
+At that very moment her godmother appeared on the scene. She gave a tap
+with her wand to Cinderella's clothes, and transformed them into a dress
+even more magnificent than her previous ones.
+
+The two sisters recognised her for the beautiful person whom they had
+seen at the ball, and threw themselves at her feet, begging her pardon
+for all the ill-treatment she had suffered at their hands.
+
+Cinderella raised them, and declaring as she embraced them that she
+pardoned them with all her heart, bade them to love her well in future.
+
+She was taken to the palace of the young prince in all her new array. He
+found her more beautiful than ever, and was married to her a few days
+afterwards.
+
+Cinderella was as good as she was beautiful. She set aside apartments in
+the palace for her two sisters, and married them the very same day to
+two gentlemen of high rank about the Court.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a little village girl, the prettiest that had
+ever been seen. Her mother doted on her. Her grandmother was even
+fonder, and made her a little red hood, which became her so well that
+everywhere she went by the name of Little Red Riding Hood.
+
+One day her mother, who had just made and baked some cakes, said to her:
+
+'Go and see how your grandmother is, for I have been told that she is
+ill. Take her a cake and this little pot of butter.'
+
+Little Red Riding Hood set off at once for the house of her grandmother,
+who lived in another village.
+
+On her way through a wood she met old Father Wolf. He would have very
+much liked to eat her, but dared not do so on account of some
+wood-cutters who were in the forest. He asked her where she was going.
+The poor child, not knowing that it was dangerous to stop and listen to
+a wolf, said:
+
+'I am going to see my grandmother, and am taking her a cake and a pot of
+butter which my mother has sent to her.'
+
+'Does she live far away?' asked the Wolf.
+
+'Oh yes,' replied Little Red Riding Hood; 'it is yonder by the mill
+which you can see right below there, and it is the first house in the
+village.'
+
+[Illustration: _Little Red Riding Hood_]
+
+'Well now,' said the Wolf, 'I think I shall go and see her too. I will
+go by this path, and you by that path, and we will see who gets there
+first.'
+
+[Illustration: '_She met old Father Wolf_']
+
+The Wolf set off running with all his might by the shorter road, and the
+little girl continued on her way by the longer road. As she went she
+amused herself by gathering nuts, running after the butterflies, and
+making nosegays of the wild flowers which she found.
+
+The Wolf was not long in reaching the grandmother's house.
+
+He knocked. _Toc Toc._
+
+'Who is there?'
+
+'It is your little daughter, Red Riding Hood,' said the Wolf, disguising
+his voice, 'and I bring you a cake and a little pot of butter as a
+present from my mother.'
+
+[Illustration: '_Making nosegays of the wild flowers_']
+
+The worthy grandmother was in bed, not being very well, and cried out to
+him:
+
+'Pull out the peg and the latch will fall.'
+
+The Wolf drew out the peg and the door flew open. Then he sprang upon
+the poor old lady and ate her up in less than no time, for he had been
+more than three days without food.
+
+After that he shut the door, lay down in the grandmother's bed, and
+waited for Little Red Riding Hood.
+
+Presently she came and knocked. _Toc Toc._
+
+'Who is there?'
+
+Now Little Red Riding Hood on hearing the Wolf's gruff voice was at
+first frightened, but thinking that her grandmother had a bad cold, she
+replied:
+
+'It is your little daughter, Red Riding Hood, and I bring you a cake and
+a little pot of butter from my mother.'
+
+[Illustration: '_Come up on the bed with me_']
+
+Softening his voice, the Wolf called out to her:
+
+'Pull out the peg and the latch will fall.'
+
+Little Red Riding Hood drew out the peg and the door flew open.
+
+When he saw her enter, the Wolf hid himself in the bed beneath the
+counterpane.
+
+'Put the cake and the little pot of butter on the bin,' he said, 'and
+come up on the bed with me.'
+
+Little Red Riding Hood took off her clothes, but when she climbed up on
+the bed she was astonished to see how her grandmother looked in her
+nightgown.
+
+'Grandmother dear!' she exclaimed, 'what big arms you have!'
+
+'The better to embrace you, my child!'
+
+'Grandmother dear, what big legs you have!'
+
+'The better to run with, my child!'
+
+'Grandmother dear, what big ears you have!'
+
+'The better to hear with, my child!'
+
+'Grandmother dear, what big eyes you have!'
+
+'The better to see with, my child!'
+
+'Grandmother dear, what big teeth you have!'
+
+'The better to eat you with!'
+
+With these words the wicked Wolf leapt upon Little Red Riding Hood and
+gobbled her up.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "'YOU MUST DIE, MADAM,' HE SAID."]
+
+BLUE BEARD
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a man who owned splendid town and country
+houses, gold and silver plate, tapestries and coaches gilt all over. But
+the poor fellow had a blue beard, and this made him so ugly and
+frightful that there was not a woman or girl who did not run away at
+sight of him.
+
+Amongst his neighbours was a lady of high degree who had two
+surpassingly beautiful daughters. He asked for the hand of one of these
+in marriage, leaving it to their mother to choose which should be
+bestowed upon him. Both girls, however, raised objections, and his offer
+was bandied from one to the other, neither being able to bring herself
+to accept a man with a blue beard. Another reason for their distaste was
+the fact that he had already married several wives, and no one knew what
+had become of them.
+
+In order that they might become better acquainted, Blue Beard invited
+the two girls, with their mother and three or four of their best
+friends, to meet a party of young men from the neighbourhood at one of
+his country houses. Here they spent eight whole days, and throughout
+their stay there was a constant round of picnics, hunting and fishing
+expeditions, dances, dinners, and luncheons; and they never slept at
+all, through spending all the night in playing merry pranks upon each
+other. In short, everything went so gaily that the younger daughter
+began to think the master of the house had not so very blue a beard
+after all, and that he was an exceedingly agreeable man. As soon as the
+party returned to town their marriage took place.
+
+At the end of a month Blue Beard informed his wife that important
+business obliged him to make a journey into a distant part of the
+country, which would occupy at least six weeks. He begged her to amuse
+herself well during his absence, and suggested that she should invite
+some of her friends and take them, if she liked, to the country. He was
+particularly anxious that she should enjoy herself thoroughly.
+
+'Here,' he said, 'are the keys of the two large storerooms, and here is
+the one that locks up the gold and silver plate which is not in everyday
+use. This key belongs to the strong-boxes where my gold and silver is
+kept, this to the caskets containing my jewels; while here you have the
+master-key which gives admittance to all the apartments. As regards this
+little key, it is the key of the small room at the end of the long
+passage on the lower floor. You may open everything, you may go
+everywhere, but I forbid you to enter this little room. And I forbid you
+so seriously that if you were indeed to open the door, I should be so
+angry that I might do anything.'
+
+She promised to follow out these instructions exactly, and after
+embracing her, Blue Beard steps into his coach and is off upon his
+journey.
+
+[Illustration: _Blue Beard_]
+
+Her neighbours and friends did not wait to be invited before coming to
+call upon the young bride, so great was their eagerness to see the
+splendours of her house. They had not dared to venture while her
+husband was there, for his blue beard frightened them. But in less than
+no time there they were, running in and out of the rooms, the closets,
+and the wardrobes, each of which was finer than the last. Presently they
+went upstairs to the storerooms, and there they could not admire enough
+the profusion and magnificence of the tapestries, beds, sofas, cabinets,
+tables, and stands. There were mirrors in which they could view
+themselves from top to toe, some with frames of plate glass, others with
+frames of silver and gilt lacquer, that were the most superb and
+beautiful things that had ever been seen. They were loud and persistent
+in their envy of their friend's good fortune. She, on the other hand,
+derived little amusement from the sight of all these riches, the reason
+being that she was impatient to go and inspect the little room on the
+lower floor.
+
+So overcome with curiosity was she that, without reflecting upon the
+discourtesy of leaving her guests, she ran down a private staircase, so
+precipitately that twice or thrice she nearly broke her neck, and so
+reached the door of the little room. There she paused for a while,
+thinking of the prohibition which her husband had made, and reflecting
+that harm might come to her as a result of disobedience. But the
+temptation was so great that she could not conquer it. Taking the little
+key, with a trembling hand she opened the door of the room.
+
+At first she saw nothing, for the windows were closed, but after a few
+moments she perceived dimly that the floor was entirely covered with
+clotted blood, and that in this were reflected the dead bodies of
+several women that hung along the walls. These were all the wives of
+Blue Beard, whose throats he had cut, one after another.
+
+She thought to die of terror, and the key of the room, which she had
+just withdrawn from the lock, fell from her hand.
+
+When she had somewhat regained her senses, she picked up the key, closed
+the door, and went up to her chamber to compose herself a little. But
+this she could not do, for her nerves were too shaken. Noticing that the
+key of the little room was stained with blood, she wiped it two or three
+times. But the blood did not go. She washed it well, and even rubbed it
+with sand and grit. Always the blood remained. For the key was
+bewitched, and there was no means of cleaning it completely. When the
+blood was removed from one side, it reappeared on the other.
+
+[Illustration: '_She washed it well_']
+
+Blue Beard returned from his journey that very evening. He had received
+some letters on the way, he said, from which he learned that the
+business upon which he had set forth had just been concluded to his
+satisfaction. His wife did everything she could to make it appear
+that she was delighted by his speedy return.
+
+[Illustration: _Sister Anne_]
+
+On the morrow he demanded the keys. She gave them to him, but with so
+trembling a hand that he guessed at once what had happened.
+
+'How comes it,' he said to her, 'that the key of the little room is not
+with the others?'
+
+'I must have left it upstairs upon my table,' she said.
+
+'Do not fail to bring it to me presently,' said Blue Beard.
+
+After several delays the key had to be brought. Blue Beard examined it,
+and addressed his wife.
+
+'Why is there blood on this key?'
+
+'I do not know at all,' replied the poor woman, paler than death.
+
+'You do not know at all?' exclaimed Blue Beard; 'I know well enough. You
+wanted to enter the little room! Well, madam, enter it you shall--you
+shall go and take your place among the ladies you have seen there.'
+
+She threw herself at her husband's feet, asking his pardon with tears,
+and with all the signs of a true repentance for her disobedience. She
+would have softened a rock, in her beauty and distress, but Blue Beard
+had a heart harder than any stone.
+
+'You must die, madam,' he said; 'and at once.'
+
+'Since I must die,' she replied, gazing at him with eyes that were wet
+with tears, 'give me a little time to say my prayers.'
+
+'I give you one quarter of an hour,' replied Blue Beard, 'but not a
+moment longer.'
+
+When the poor girl was alone, she called her sister to her and said:
+
+'Sister Anne'--for that was her name--'go up, I implore you, to the top
+of the tower, and see if my brothers are not approaching. They promised
+that they would come and visit me to-day. If you see them, make signs to
+them to hasten.'
+
+Sister Anne went up to the top of the tower, and the poor unhappy girl
+cried out to her from time to time:
+
+'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'
+
+And Sister Anne replied:
+
+'I see nought but dust in the sun and the green grass growing.'
+
+Presently Blue Beard, grasping a great cutlass, cried out at the top of
+his voice:
+
+'Come down quickly, or I shall come upstairs myself.'
+
+'Oh please, one moment more,' called out his wife.
+
+And at the same moment she cried in a whisper:
+
+'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'
+
+'I see nought but dust in the sun and the green grass growing.'
+
+'Come down at once, I say,' shouted Blue Beard, 'or I will come upstairs
+myself.'
+
+'I am coming,' replied his wife.
+
+Then she called:
+
+'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'
+
+'I see,' replied Sister Anne, 'a great cloud of dust which comes this
+way.'
+
+'Is it my brothers?'
+
+'Alas, sister, no; it is but a flock of sheep.'
+
+'Do you refuse to come down?' roared Blue Beard.
+
+[Illustration: '_Brandishing the cutlass aloft_']
+
+'One little moment more,' exclaimed his wife.
+
+Once more she cried:
+
+'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?'
+
+'I see,' replied her sister, 'two horsemen who come this way, but they
+are as yet a long way off.... Heaven be praised,' she exclaimed a moment
+later, 'they are my brothers.... I am signalling to them all I can to
+hasten.'
+
+Blue Beard let forth so mighty a shout that the whole house shook. The
+poor wife went down and cast herself at his feet, all dishevelled and in
+tears.
+
+'That avails you nothing,' said Blue Beard; 'you must die.'
+
+Seizing her by the hair with one hand, and with the other brandishing
+the cutlass aloft, he made as if to cut off her head.
+
+The poor woman, turning towards him and fixing a dying gaze upon him,
+begged for a brief moment in which to collect her thoughts.
+
+'No! no!' he cried; 'commend your soul to Heaven.' And raising his
+arm----
+
+At this very moment there came so loud a knocking at the gate that Blue
+Beard stopped short. The gate was opened, and two horsemen dashed in,
+who drew their swords and rode straight at Blue Beard. The latter
+recognised them as the brothers of his wife--one of them a dragoon, and
+the other a musketeer--and fled instantly in an effort to escape. But
+the two brothers were so close upon him that they caught him ere he
+could gain the first flight of steps. They plunged their swords through
+his body and left him dead. The poor woman was nearly as dead as her
+husband, and had not the strength to rise and embrace her brothers.
+
+It was found that Blue Beard had no heirs, and that consequently his
+wife became mistress of all his wealth. She devoted a portion to
+arranging a marriage between her sister Anne and a young gentleman with
+whom the latter had been for some time in love, while another portion
+purchased a captain's commission for each of her brothers. The rest
+formed a dowry for her own marriage with a very worthy man, who banished
+from her mind all memory of the evil days she had spent with Blue
+Beard.
+
+
+
+
+BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a merchant who was exceedingly rich. He had
+six children--three boys and three girls--and being a sensible man he
+spared no expense upon their education, but engaged tutors of every kind
+for them. All his daughters were pretty, but the youngest especially was
+admired by everybody. When she was small she was known simply as 'the
+little beauty,' and this name stuck to her, causing a great deal of
+jealousy on the part of her sisters.
+
+This youngest girl was not only prettier than her sisters, but very much
+nicer. The two elder girls were very arrogant as a result of their
+wealth; they pretended to be great ladies, declining to receive the
+daughters of other merchants, and associating only with people of
+quality. Every day they went off to balls and theatres, and for walks in
+the park, with many a gibe at their little sister, who spent much of her
+time in reading good books.
+
+Now these girls were known to be very rich, and in consequence were
+sought in marriage by many prominent merchants. The two eldest said they
+would never marry unless they could find a duke, or at least a count.
+But Beauty--this, as I have mentioned, was the name by which the
+youngest was known--very politely thanked all who proposed marriage to
+her, and said that she was too young at present, and that she wished to
+keep her father company for several years yet.
+
+Suddenly the merchant lost his fortune, the sole property which remained
+to him being a small house in the country, a long way from the capital.
+With tears he broke it to his children that they would have to move to
+this house, where by working like peasants they might just be able to
+live.
+
+The two elder girls replied that they did not wish to leave the town,
+and that they had several admirers who would be only too happy to marry
+them, notwithstanding their loss of fortune. But the simple maidens were
+mistaken: their admirers would no longer look at them, now that they
+were poor. Everybody disliked them on account of their arrogance, and
+folks declared that they did not deserve pity: in fact, that it was a
+good thing their pride had had a fall--a turn at minding sheep would
+teach them how to play the fine lady! 'But we are very sorry for
+Beauty's misfortune,' everybody added; 'she is such a dear girl, and was
+always so considerate to poor people: so gentle, and with such charming
+manners!'
+
+There were even several worthy men who would have married her, despite
+the fact that she was now penniless; but she told them she could not
+make up her mind to leave her poor father in his misfortune, and that
+she intended to go with him to the country, to comfort him and help him
+to work. Poor Beauty had been very grieved at first over the loss of her
+fortune, but she said to herself:
+
+'However much I cry, I shall not recover my wealth, so I must try to be
+happy without it.'
+
+When they were established in the country the merchant and his family
+started working on the land. Beauty used to rise at four o'clock in the
+morning, and was busy all day looking after the house, and preparing
+dinner for the family. At first she found it very hard, for she was not
+accustomed to work like a servant, but at the end of a couple of months
+she grew stronger, and her health was improved by the work. When she had
+leisure she read, or played the harpsichord, or sang at her
+spinning-wheel.
+
+[Illustration: '_At first she found it very hard_']
+
+Her two sisters, on the other hand, were bored to death; they did not
+get up till ten o'clock in the morning, and they idled about all day.
+Their only diversion was to bemoan the beautiful clothes they used to
+wear and the company they used to keep. 'Look at our little sister,'
+they would say to each other; 'her tastes are so low and her mind so
+stupid that she is quite content with this miserable state of affairs.'
+
+The good merchant did not share the opinion of his two daughters, for he
+knew that Beauty was more fitted to shine in company than her sisters.
+He was greatly impressed by the girl's good qualities, and especially by
+her patience--for her sisters, not content with leaving her all the work
+of the house, never missed an opportunity of insulting her.
+
+They had been living for a year in this seclusion when the merchant
+received a letter informing him that a ship on which he had some
+merchandise had just come safely home. The news nearly turned the heads
+of the two elder girls, for they thought that at last they would be able
+to quit their dull life in the country. When they saw their father ready
+to set out they begged him to bring them back dresses, furs, caps, and
+finery of every kind. Beauty asked for nothing, thinking to herself that
+all the money which the merchandise might yield would not be enough to
+satisfy her sisters' demands.
+
+'You have not asked me for anything,' said her father.
+
+'As you are so kind as to think of me,' she replied, 'please bring me a
+rose, for there are none here.'
+
+Beauty had no real craving for a rose, but she was anxious not to seem
+to disparage the conduct of her sisters. The latter would have declared
+that she purposely asked for nothing in order to be different from them.
+
+[Illustration: '"_Look at our little sister_"']
+
+The merchant duly set forth; but when he reached his destination
+there was a law-suit over his merchandise, and after much trouble he
+returned poorer than he had been before. With only thirty miles to go
+before reaching home, he was already looking forward to the pleasure of
+seeing his children again, when he found he had to pass through a large
+wood. Here he lost himself. It was snowing horribly; the wind was so
+strong that twice he was thrown from his horse, and when night came on
+he made up his mind he must either die of hunger and cold or be eaten by
+the wolves that he could hear howling all about him.
+
+[Illustration: '_It was snowing horribly_']
+
+Suddenly he saw, at the end of a long avenue of trees, a strong light.
+It seemed to be some distance away, but he walked towards it, and
+presently discovered that it came from a large palace, which was all lit
+up.
+
+The merchant thanked heaven for sending him this help, and hastened to
+the castle. To his surprise, however, he found no one about in the
+courtyards. His horse, which had followed him, saw a large stable open
+and went in; and on finding hay and oats in readiness the poor animal,
+which was dying of hunger, set to with a will. The merchant tied him up
+in the stable, and approached the house, where he found not a soul. He
+entered a large room; here there was a good fire, and a table laden with
+food, but with a place laid for one only. The rain and snow had soaked
+him to the skin, so he drew near the fire to dry himself. 'I am sure,'
+he remarked to himself, 'that the master of this house or his servants
+will forgive the liberty I am taking; doubtless they will be here soon.'
+
+He waited some considerable time; but eleven o'clock struck and still he
+had seen nobody. Being no longer able to resist his hunger he took a
+chicken and devoured it in two mouthfuls, trembling. Then he drank
+several glasses of wine, and becoming bolder ventured out of the room.
+He went through several magnificently furnished apartments, and finally
+found a room with a very good bed. It was now past midnight, and as he
+was very tired he decided to shut the door and go to bed.
+
+It was ten o'clock the next morning when he rose, and he was greatly
+astonished to find a new suit in place of his own, which had been
+spoilt. 'This palace,' he said to himself, 'must surely belong to some
+good fairy, who has taken pity on my plight.'
+
+He looked out of the window. The snow had vanished, and his eyes rested
+instead upon arbours of flowers--a charming spectacle. He went back to
+the room where he had supped the night before, and found there a little
+table with a cup of chocolate on it. 'I thank you, Madam Fairy,' he said
+aloud, 'for being so kind as to think of my breakfast.'
+
+Having drunk his chocolate the good man went forth to look for his
+horse. As he passed under a bower of roses he remembered that Beauty had
+asked for one, and he plucked a spray from a mass of blooms. The very
+same moment he heard a terrible noise, and saw a beast coming towards
+him which was so hideous that he came near to fainting.
+
+'Ungrateful wretch!' said the Beast, in a dreadful voice; 'I have saved
+your life by receiving you into my castle, and in return for my trouble
+you steal that which I love better than anything in the world--my roses.
+You shall pay for this with your life! I give you fifteen minutes to
+make your peace with Heaven.'
+
+The merchant threw himself on his knees and wrung his hands. 'Pardon, my
+lord!' he cried; 'one of my daughters had asked for a rose, and I did
+not dream I should be giving offence by picking one.'
+
+'I am not called "my lord,"' answered the monster, 'but "The Beast." I
+have no liking for compliments, but prefer people to say what they
+think. Do not hope therefore to soften me by flattery. You have
+daughters, you say; well, I am willing to pardon you if one of your
+daughters will come, of her own choice, to die in your place. Do not
+argue with me--go! And swear that if your daughters refuse to die in
+your place you will come back again in three months.'
+
+[Illustration: _The Beast_]
+
+The good man had no intention of sacrificing one of his daughters to
+this hideous monster, but he thought that at least he might have the
+pleasure of kissing them once again. He therefore swore to return, and
+the Beast told him he could go when he wished. 'I do not wish you to go
+empty-handed,' he added; 'return to the room where you slept; you will
+find there a large empty box. Fill it with what you will; I will have it
+sent home for you.'
+
+With these words the Beast withdrew, leaving the merchant to reflect
+that if he must indeed die, at all events he would have the consolation
+of providing for his poor children.
+
+He went back to the room where he had slept. He found there a large
+number of gold pieces, and with these he filled the box the Beast had
+mentioned. Having closed the latter, he took his horse, which was still
+in the stable, and set forth from the palace, as melancholy now as he
+had been joyous when he entered it.
+
+The horse of its own accord took one of the forest roads, and in a few
+hours the good man reached his own little house. His children crowded
+round him, but at sight of them, instead of welcoming their caresses, he
+burst into tears. In his hand was the bunch of roses which he had
+brought for Beauty, and he gave it to her with these words:
+
+'Take these roses, Beauty; it is dearly that your poor father will have
+to pay for them.'
+
+Thereupon he told his family of the dire adventure which had befallen
+him. On hearing the tale the two elder girls were in a great commotion,
+and began to upbraid Beauty for not weeping as they did. 'See to what
+her smugness has brought this young chit,' they said; 'surely she might
+strive to find some way out of this trouble, as we do! But oh, dear me,
+no; her ladyship is so determined to be different that she can speak of
+her father's death without a tear!'
+
+'It would be quite useless to weep,' said Beauty. 'Why should I lament
+my father's death? He is not going to die. Since the monster agrees to
+accept a daughter instead, I intend to offer myself to appease his fury.
+It will be a happiness to do so, for in dying I shall have the joy of
+saving my father, and of proving to him my devotion.'
+
+'No, sister,' said her three brothers; 'you shall not die; we will go in
+quest of this monster, and will perish under his blows if we cannot kill
+him.'
+
+'Do not entertain any such hopes, my children,' said the merchant; 'the
+power of this Beast is so great that I have not the slightest
+expectation of escaping him. I am touched by the goodness of Beauty's
+heart, but I will not expose her to death. I am old and have not much
+longer to live; and I shall merely lose a few years that will be
+regretted only on account of you, my dear children.'
+
+'I can assure you, father,' said Beauty, 'that you will not go to this
+palace without me. You cannot prevent me from following you. Although I
+am young I am not so very deeply in love with life, and I would rather
+be devoured by this monster than die of the grief which your loss would
+cause me.' Words were useless. Beauty was quite determined to go to this
+wonderful palace, and her sisters were not sorry, for they regarded her
+good qualities with deep jealousy.
+
+The merchant was so taken up with the sorrow of losing his daughter that
+he forgot all about the box which he had filled with gold. To his
+astonishment, when he had shut the door of his room and was about to
+retire for the night, there it was at the side of his bed! He decided
+not to tell his children that he had become so rich, for his elder
+daughters would have wanted to go back to town, and he had resolved to
+die in the country. He did confide his secret to Beauty, however, and
+the latter told him that during his absence they had entertained some
+visitors, amongst whom were two admirers of her sisters. She begged her
+father to let them marry; for she was of such a sweet nature that she
+loved them, and forgave them with all her heart the evil they had done
+her.
+
+When Beauty set off with her father the two heartless girls rubbed their
+eyes with an onion, so as to seem tearful; but her brothers wept in
+reality, as did also the merchant. Beauty alone did not cry, because she
+did not want to add to their sorrow.
+
+The horse took the road to the palace, and by evening they espied it,
+all lit up as before. An empty stable awaited the nag, and when the good
+merchant and his daughter entered the great hall, they found there a
+table magnificently laid for two people. The merchant had not the heart
+to eat, but Beauty, forcing herself to appear calm, sat down and served
+him. Since the Beast had provided such splendid fare, she thought to
+herself, he must presumably be anxious to fatten her up before eating
+her.
+
+When they had finished supper they heard a terrible noise. With tears
+the merchant bade farewell to his daughter, for he knew it was the
+Beast. Beauty herself could not help trembling at the awful apparition,
+but she did her best to compose herself. The Beast asked her if she had
+come of her own free will, and she timidly answered that such was the
+case.
+
+'You are indeed kind,' said the Beast, 'and I am much obliged to you.
+You, my good man, will depart to-morrow morning, and you must not think
+of coming back again. Good-bye, Beauty!'
+
+'Good-bye, Beast!' she answered.
+
+Thereupon the monster suddenly disappeared.
+
+'Daughter,' said the merchant, embracing Beauty, 'I am nearly dead with
+fright. Let me be the one to stay here!'
+
+'No, father,' said Beauty, firmly, 'you must go to-morrow morning, and
+leave me to the mercy of Heaven. Perhaps pity will be taken on me.'
+
+They retired to rest, thinking they would not sleep at all during the
+night, but they were hardly in bed before their eyes were closed in
+sleep. In her dreams there appeared to Beauty a lady, who said to her:
+
+'Your virtuous character pleases me, Beauty. In thus undertaking to give
+your life to save your father you have performed an act of goodness
+which shall not go unrewarded.'
+
+When she woke up Beauty related this dream to her father. He was
+somewhat consoled by it, but could not refrain from loudly giving vent
+to his grief when the time came to tear himself away from his beloved
+child.
+
+As soon as he had gone Beauty sat down in the great hall and began to
+cry. But she had plenty of courage, and after imploring divine
+protection she determined to grieve no more during the short time she
+had yet to live.
+
+She was convinced that the Beast would devour her that night, but made
+up her mind that in the interval she would walk about and have a look at
+this beautiful castle, the splendour of which she could not but admire.
+
+Imagine her surprise when she came upon a door on which were the words
+'Beauty's Room'! She quickly opened this door, and was dazzled by the
+magnificence of the appointments within. 'They are evidently anxious
+that I should not be dull,' she murmured, as she caught sight of a
+large bookcase, a harpsichord, and several volumes of music. A moment
+later another thought crossed her mind. 'If I had only a day to spend
+here,' she reflected, 'such provision would surely not have been made
+for me.'
+
+This notion gave her fresh courage. She opened the bookcase, and found a
+book in which was written, in letters of gold:
+
+'Ask for anything you wish: you are mistress of all here.'
+
+'Alas!' she said with a sigh, 'my only wish is to see my poor father,
+and to know what he is doing.'
+
+As she said this to herself she glanced at a large mirror. Imagine her
+astonishment when she perceived her home reflected in it, and saw her
+father just approaching. Sorrow was written on his face; but when her
+sisters came to meet him it was impossible not to detect, despite the
+grimaces with which they tried to simulate grief, the satisfaction they
+felt at the loss of their sister. In a moment the vision faded away, yet
+Beauty could not but think that the Beast was very kind, and that she
+had nothing much to fear from him.
+
+At midday she found the table laid, and during her meal she enjoyed an
+excellent concert, though the performers were invisible. But in the
+evening, as she was about to sit down at the table, she heard the noise
+made by the Beast, and quaked in spite of herself.
+
+'Beauty,' said the monster to her, 'may I watch you have your supper?'
+
+'You are master here,' said the trembling Beauty.
+
+'Not so,' replied the Beast; 'it is you who are mistress; you have only
+to tell me to go, if my presence annoys you, and I will go immediately.
+Tell me, now, do you not consider me very ugly?'
+
+'I do,' said Beauty, 'since I must speak the truth; but I think you are
+also very kind.'
+
+'It is as you say,' said the monster; 'and in addition to being ugly, I
+lack intelligence. As I am well aware, I am a mere beast.'
+
+'It is not the way with stupid people,' answered Beauty, 'to admit a
+lack of intelligence. Fools never realise it.'
+
+'Sup well, Beauty,' said the monster, 'and try to banish dulness from
+your home--for all about you is yours, and I should be sorry to think
+you were not happy.'
+
+'You are indeed kind,' said Beauty. 'With one thing, I must own, I am
+well pleased, and that is your kind heart. When I think of that you no
+longer seem to be ugly.'
+
+'Oh yes,' answered the Beast, 'I have a good heart, right enough, but I
+am a monster.'
+
+'There are many men,' said Beauty, 'who make worse monsters than you,
+and I prefer you, notwithstanding your looks, to those who under the
+semblance of men hide false, corrupt, and ungrateful hearts.'
+
+The Beast replied that if only he had a grain of wit he would compliment
+her in the grand style by way of thanks; but that being so stupid he
+could only say he was much obliged.
+
+Beauty ate with a good appetite, for she now had scarcely any fear of
+the Beast. But she nearly died of fright when he put this question to
+her:
+
+'Beauty, will you be my wife?'
+
+For some time she did not answer, fearing lest she might anger the
+monster by her refusal. She summoned up courage at last to say, rather
+fearfully, 'No, Beast!'
+
+The poor monster gave forth so terrible a sigh that the noise of it went
+whistling through the whole palace. But to Beauty's speedy relief the
+Beast sadly took his leave and left the room, turning several times as
+he did so to look once more at her. Left alone, Beauty was moved by
+great compassion for this poor Beast. 'What a pity he is so ugly,' she
+said, 'for he is so good.'
+
+Beauty passed three months in the palace quietly enough. Every evening
+the Beast paid her a visit, and entertained her at supper by a display
+of much good sense, if not with what the world calls wit. And every day
+Beauty was made aware of fresh kindnesses on the part of the monster.
+Through seeing him often she had become accustomed to his ugliness, and
+far from dreading the moment of his visit, she frequently looked at her
+watch to see if it was nine o'clock, the hour when the Beast always
+appeared.
+
+One thing alone troubled Beauty; every evening, before retiring to bed,
+the monster asked her if she would be his wife, and seemed overwhelmed
+with grief when she refused. One day she said to him:
+
+'You distress me, Beast. I wish I could marry you, but I cannot deceive
+you by allowing you to believe that that can ever be. I will always be
+your friend--be content with that.'
+
+'Needs must,' said the Beast. 'But let me make the position plain. I
+know I am very terrible, but I love you very much, and I shall be very
+happy if you will only remain here. Promise that you will never leave
+me.'
+
+Beauty blushed at these words. She had seen in her mirror that her
+father was stricken down by the sorrow of having lost her, and she
+wished very much to see him again. 'I would willingly promise to remain
+with you always,' she said to the Beast, 'but I have so great a desire
+to see my father again that I shall die of grief if you refuse me this
+boon.'
+
+'I would rather die myself than cause you grief,' said the monster. 'I
+will send you back to your father. You shall stay with him, and your
+Beast shall die of sorrow at your departure.'
+
+'No, no,' said Beauty, crying; 'I like you too much to wish to cause
+your death. I promise you I will return in eight days. You have shown me
+that my sisters are married, and that my brothers have joined the army.
+My father is all alone; let me stay with him one week.'
+
+'You shall be with him to-morrow morning,' said the Beast. 'But remember
+your promise. All you have to do when you want to return is to put your
+ring on a table when you are going to bed. Good-bye, Beauty!'
+
+As usual, the Beast sighed when he said these last words, and Beauty
+went to bed quite down-hearted at having grieved him.
+
+[Illustration: "EVERY EVENING THE BEAST PAID HER A VISIT."]
+
+When she woke the next morning she found she was in her father's house.
+She rang a little bell which stood by the side of her bed, and it was
+answered by their servant, who gave a great cry at sight of her. The
+good man came running at the noise, and was overwhelmed with joy at the
+sight of his dear daughter. Their embraces lasted for more than a
+quarter of an hour. When their transports had subsided, it occurred to
+Beauty that she had no clothes to put on; but the servant told her that
+she had just discovered in the next room a chest full of dresses trimmed
+with gold and studded with diamonds. Beauty felt grateful to the
+Beast for this attention, and having selected the simplest of the gowns
+she bade the servant pack up the others, as she wished to send them as
+presents to her sisters. The words were hardly out of her mouth when the
+chest disappeared. Her father expressed the opinion that the Beast
+wished her to keep them all for herself, and in a trice dresses and
+chest were back again where they were before.
+
+When Beauty had dressed she learned that her sisters, with their
+husbands, had arrived. Both were very unhappy. The eldest had wedded an
+exceedingly handsome man, but the latter was so taken up with his own
+looks that he studied them from morning to night, and despised his
+wife's beauty. The second had married a man with plenty of brains, but
+he only used them to pay insults to everybody--his wife first and
+foremost.
+
+The sisters were greatly mortified when they saw Beauty dressed like a
+princess, and more beautiful than the dawn. Her caresses were ignored,
+and the jealousy which they could not stifle only grew worse when she
+told them how happy she was. Out into the garden went the envious pair,
+there to vent their spleen to the full.
+
+'Why should this chit be happier than we are?' each demanded of the
+other; 'are we not much nicer than she is?'
+
+'Sister,' said the elder, 'I have an idea. Let us try to persuade her to
+stay here longer than the eight days. Her stupid Beast will fly into a
+rage when he finds she has broken her word, and will very likely devour
+her.'
+
+'You are right, sister,' said the other; 'but we must make a great fuss
+of her if we are to make the plan successful.'
+
+With this plot decided upon they went upstairs again, and paid such
+attention to their little sister that Beauty wept for joy. When the
+eight days had passed the two sisters tore their hair, and showed such
+grief over her departure that she promised to remain another eight days.
+
+Beauty reproached herself, nevertheless, with the grief she was causing
+to the poor Beast; moreover, she greatly missed not seeing him. On the
+tenth night of her stay in her father's house she dreamed that she was
+in the palace garden, where she saw the Beast lying on the grass nearly
+dead, and that he upbraided her for her ingratitude. Beauty woke up with
+a start, and burst into tears.
+
+'I am indeed very wicked,' she said, 'to cause so much grief to a Beast
+who has shown me nothing but kindness. Is it his fault that he is so
+ugly, and has so few wits? He is good, and that makes up for all the
+rest. Why did I not wish to marry him? I should have been a good deal
+happier with him than my sisters are with their husbands. It is neither
+good looks nor brains in a husband that make a woman happy; it is beauty
+of character, virtue, kindness. All these qualities the Beast has. I
+admit I have no love for him, but he has my esteem, friendship, and
+gratitude. At all events I must not make him miserable, or I shall
+reproach myself all my life.'
+
+With these words Beauty rose and placed her ring on the table.
+
+Hardly had she returned to her bed than she was asleep, and when she
+woke the next morning she saw with joy that she was in the Beast's
+palace. She dressed in her very best on purpose to please him, and
+nearly died of impatience all day, waiting for nine o'clock in the
+evening. But the clock struck in vain: no Beast appeared. Beauty now
+thought she must have caused his death, and rushed about the palace with
+loud despairing cries. She looked everywhere, and at last, recalling her
+dream, dashed into the garden by the canal, where she had seen him in
+her sleep. There she found the poor Beast lying unconscious, and thought
+he must be dead. She threw herself on his body, all her horror of his
+looks forgotten, and, feeling his heart still beat, fetched water from
+the canal and threw it on his face.
+
+The Beast opened his eyes and said to Beauty:
+
+'You forgot your promise. The grief I felt at having lost you made me
+resolve to die of hunger; but I die content since I have the pleasure of
+seeing you once more.'
+
+'Dear Beast, you shall not die,' said Beauty; 'you shall live and become
+my husband. Here and now I offer you my hand, and swear that I will
+marry none but you. Alas, I fancied I felt only friendship for you, but
+the sorrow I have experienced clearly proves to me that I cannot live
+without you.'
+
+Beauty had scarce uttered these words when the castle became ablaze with
+lights before her eyes: fireworks, music--all proclaimed a feast. But
+these splendours were lost on her: she turned to her dear Beast, still
+trembling for his danger.
+
+Judge of her surprise now! At her feet she saw no longer the Beast, who
+had disappeared, but a prince, more beautiful than Love himself, who
+thanked her for having put an end to his enchantment. With good reason
+were her eyes riveted upon the prince, but she asked him nevertheless
+where the Beast had gone.
+
+'You see him at your feet,' answered the prince. 'A wicked fairy
+condemned me to retain that form until some beautiful girl should
+consent to marry me, and she forbade me to betray any sign of
+intelligence. You alone in all the world could show yourself susceptible
+to the kindness of my character, and in offering you my crown I do but
+discharge the obligation that I owe you.'
+
+In agreeable surprise Beauty offered her hand to the handsome prince,
+and assisted him to rise. Together they repaired to the castle, and
+Beauty was overcome with joy to find, assembled in the hall, her father
+and her entire family. The lady who had appeared to her in her dream had
+had them transported to the castle.
+
+[Illustration: '"_Your doom is to become statues_"']
+
+'Beauty,' said this lady (who was a celebrated fairy), 'come and receive
+the reward of your noble choice. You preferred merit to either beauty or
+wit, and you certainly deserve to find these qualities combined in one
+person. It is your destiny to become a great queen, but I hope that the
+pomp of royalty will not destroy your virtues. As for you, ladies,' she
+continued, turning to Beauty's two sisters, 'I know your hearts and the
+malice they harbour. Your doom is to become statues, and under the stone
+that wraps you round to retain all your feelings. You will stand at the
+door of your sister's palace, and I can visit no greater punishment upon
+you than that you shall be witnesses of her happiness. Only when you
+recognise your faults can you return to your present shape, and I am
+very much afraid that you will be statues for ever. Pride, ill-temper,
+greed, and laziness can all be corrected, but nothing short of a
+miracle will turn a wicked and envious heart.'
+
+In a trice, with a tap of her hand, the fairy transported them all to
+the prince's realm, where his subjects were delighted to see him again.
+He married Beauty, and they lived together for a long time in happiness
+the more perfect because it was founded on virtue.
+
+
+
+
+THE FRIENDLY FROG
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a king who had been at war for a long time
+with his neighbours. After many battles had been fought his capital was
+besieged by the enemy. Fearing for the safety of the queen, the king
+implored her to take refuge in a stronghold to which he himself had
+never been but once. The queen besought him with tears to let her remain
+at his side, and share his fate, and lamented loudly when the king
+placed her in the carriage which was to take her away under escort.
+
+The king promised to slip away whenever possible and pay her a visit,
+seeking thus to comfort her, although he knew that there was small
+chance of the hope being fulfilled. For the castle was a long way off,
+in the midst of a dense forest, and only those with a thorough knowledge
+of the roads could possibly reach it.
+
+The queen was broken-hearted at having to leave her husband exposed to
+the perils of war, and though she made her journey by easy stages, lest
+the fatigue of so much travelling should make her ill, she was downcast
+and miserable when at length she reached the castle. She made excursions
+into the country round about, when sufficiently recovered, but found
+nothing to amuse or distract her. On all sides wide barren spaces met
+her eye, melancholy rather than pleasant to look upon.
+
+'How different from my old home!' she exclaimed, as she gloomily
+surveyed the scene; 'if I stay here long I shall die. To whom can I talk
+in this solitude? To whom can I unburden my grief? What have I done that
+the king should exile me? He must wish me, I suppose, to feel the
+bitterness of separation to the utmost, since he banishes me to this
+hateful castle.'
+
+She grieved long and deeply, and though the king wrote every day to her
+with good news of the way the siege was going, she became more and more
+unhappy. At last she determined that she would go back to him, but
+knowing that her attendants had been forbidden to let her return, except
+under special orders from the king, she kept her intention to herself.
+On the pretext of wishing sometimes to join the hunt, she ordered a
+small chariot, capable of accommodating one person only, to be built for
+her. This she drove herself, and used to keep up with the hounds so
+closely that she would leave the rest of the hunt behind. The chariot
+being in her sole control, this gave her the opportunity to escape
+whenever she liked, and the only obstacle was her lack of familiarity
+with the roads through the forest. She trusted, however, to the favour
+of Providence to bring her safely through it.
+
+She now gave orders for a great hunt to be held, and intimated her wish
+that every one should attend. She herself was to be present in her
+chariot, and she proposed that every follower of the chase should choose
+a different line, and so close every avenue of escape to the quarry. The
+arrangements were carried out according to the queen's plan. Confident
+that she would soon see her husband again, she donned her most becoming
+attire. Her hat was trimmed with feathers of different colours, the
+front of her dress with a number of precious stones. Thus adorned, she
+looked in her beauty (which was of no ordinary stamp) like a second
+Diana.
+
+When the excitement of the chase was at its height she gave rein to her
+horses, urging them on with voice and whip, until their pace quickened
+to a gallop. But then, getting their bits between their teeth, the team
+sped onwards so fast that presently the chariot seemed to be borne upon
+the wind, and to be travelling faster than the eye could follow. Too
+late the poor queen repented of her rashness. 'What possessed me,' she
+cried, 'to think that I could manage such wild and fiery steeds? Alack!
+What will become of me! What would the king do if he knew of my great
+peril? He only sent me away because he loves me dearly, and wished me to
+be in greater safety--and this is the way I repay his tender care!'
+
+Her piteous cries rang out upon the air, but though she called on Heaven
+and invoked the fairies to her aid, it seemed that all the unseen powers
+had forsaken her.
+
+Over went the chariot. She lacked the strength to jump clear quickly
+enough, and her foot was caught between the wheel and the axle-tree. It
+was only by a miracle that she was not killed, and she lay stretched on
+the ground at the foot of a tree, with her heart scarcely beating and
+her face covered with blood, unable to speak.
+
+For a long time she lay thus. At last she opened her eyes and saw,
+standing beside her, a woman of gigantic stature. The latter wore nought
+but a lion's skin; her arms and legs were bare, and her hair was tied up
+with a dried snake's skin, the head of which dangled over her shoulder.
+In her hand she carried, for walking-stick, a stone club, and a quiver
+full of arrows hung at her side.
+
+This extraordinary apparition convinced the queen that she was dead, and
+indeed it seemed impossible that she could have survived so terrible a
+disaster. 'No wonder death needs resolution,' she murmured, 'since
+sights so terrible await one in the other world.'
+
+The giantess overheard these words, and laughed to find the queen
+thought herself dead.
+
+'Courage,' she said; 'you are still in the land of the living, though
+your lot is not improved. I am the Lion-Witch. My dwelling is near by;
+you must come and live with me.'
+
+'If you will have the kindness, good Lion-Witch, to take me back to my
+castle, the king, who loves me dearly, will not refuse you any ransom
+you demand, though it were the half of his kingdom.'
+
+'I will not do that,' replied the giantess, 'for I have wealth enough
+already. Moreover, I am tired of living alone, and as you have your wits
+about you it is possible you may be able to amuse me.'
+
+With these words she assumed the shape of a lioness, and taking the
+queen on her back, bore her off into the depths of a cavern. There she
+anointed the queen's wounds with an essence which quickly healed them.
+
+But imagine the wonder and despair of the queen to find herself in this
+dismal lair! The approach to it was by ten thousand steps, which led
+downward to the centre of the earth, and the only light was that which
+came from a number of lofty lamps, reflected in a lake of quicksilver.
+This lake teemed with monsters, each of which was hideous enough to
+have terrified one far less timid than the queen. Ravens, screech-owls,
+and many another bird of evil omen filled the air with harsh cries. Far
+off could be espied a mountain, from the slopes of which there flowed
+the tears of all hapless lovers. Its sluggish stream was fed by every
+ill-starred love. The trees had neither leaves nor fruit, and the ground
+was cumbered with briars, nettles, and rank weeds. The food, too, was
+such as might be expected in such a horrid clime. A few dried roots,
+horse-chestnuts, and thorn-apples--this was all the fare with which the
+Lion-Witch appeased the hunger of those who fell into her clutches.
+
+When the queen was well enough to be set to work, the Witch told her she
+might build herself a hut, since she was fated to remain in her company
+for the rest of her life. On hearing this the queen burst into tears.
+'Alas!' she cried, 'what have I done that you should keep me here? If my
+death, which I feel to be nigh, will cause you any pleasure, then I
+implore you to kill me: I dare not hope for any other kindness from you.
+But do not condemn me to the sadness of a life-long separation from my
+husband.'
+
+But the Lion-Witch merely laughed at her, bidding her dry her tears, if
+she would be wise, and do her part to please her. Otherwise, she
+declared, her lot would be the most miserable in the world.
+
+'And what must I do to soften your heart?' replied the queen.
+
+'I have a liking for fly-pasties,' said the Lion-Witch; 'and you must
+contrive to catch flies enough to make me a large and tasty one.'
+
+[Illustration: '_The approach to it was by ten thousand steps_']
+
+'But there are no flies here,' rejoined the queen; 'and even if there
+were there is not enough light to catch them by. Moreover, supposing I
+caught some, I have never in my life made pastry. You are therefore
+giving me orders which I cannot possibly carry out.'
+
+'No matter,' said the pitiless Lion-Witch; 'what I want I will have!'
+
+The queen made no reply, but reflected that, no matter how cruel the
+Witch might be, she had only one life to lose, and in her present plight
+what terror could death hold for her? She did not attempt to look for
+flies, therefore, but sat down beneath a yew tree, and gave way to tears
+and lamentations. 'Alas, dear husband,' she cried, 'how grieved you will
+be when you go to fetch me from the castle, and find me gone! You will
+suppose me to be dead or faithless; how I hope that you will mourn the
+loss of my life, not the loss of my love! Perhaps the remains of my
+chariot will be found in the wood, with all the ornaments I had put on
+to please you: at sight of these you will not doubt any more that I am
+dead. But then, how do I know that you will not bestow on some one else
+the heartfelt love which once belonged to me? At all events I shall be
+spared the sorrow of that knowledge, since I am never to return to the
+world.'
+
+These thoughts would have filled her mind for a long time, but she was
+interrupted by the dismal croaking of a raven overhead. Lifting her
+eyes, she saw in the dim light a large raven on the point of swallowing
+a frog which it held in its beak. 'Though I have no hope of help for
+myself,' she said, 'I will not let this unfortunate frog die, if I can
+save it; though our lots are so different, its sufferings are quite as
+great as mine.' She picked up the first stick which came to hand, and
+made the raven let go its prey. The frog fell to the ground and lay for
+a time half stunned; but as soon as it could think, in its froggish way,
+it began to speak. 'Beautiful queen,' it said, 'you are the first
+friendly soul that I have seen since my curiosity brought me here.'
+
+[Illustration: _The Friendly Frog_]
+
+'By what magic are you endowed with speech, little Frog?' replied the
+queen; 'and what people are they whom you see here? I have seen none at
+all as yet.'
+
+'All the monsters with which the lake is teeming,' replied the little
+Frog, 'were once upon a time in the world. Some sat on thrones, some
+held high positions at Court; there are even some royal ladies here who
+were the cause of strife and bloodshed. It is these latter whom you see
+in the shape of leeches, and they are condemned to remain here for a
+certain time. But of those who come here none ever returns to the world
+better or wiser.'
+
+'I can quite understand,' said the queen, 'that wicked people are not
+improved by merely being thrown together. But how is it that you are
+here, my friendly little Frog?'
+
+'I came here out of curiosity,' she replied. 'I am part fairy, and
+though, in certain directions, my powers are limited, in others they are
+far-reaching. The Lion-Witch would kill me if she knew that I was in her
+domain.'
+
+'Whatever your fairy powers,' said the queen, 'I cannot understand how
+you could have fallen into the raven's clutches and come so near to
+being devoured.'
+
+'That is easily explained,' said the Frog. 'I have nought to fear when
+my little cap of roses is on my head, for that is the source of my
+power. Unluckily I had left it in the marsh when that ugly raven pounced
+upon me, and but for you, Madam, I should not now be here. Since you
+have saved my life, you have only to command me and I will do everything
+in my power to lessen the misfortunes of your lot.'
+
+'Alas, dear Frog,' said the queen, 'the wicked fairy who holds me
+captive desires that I should make her a fly-pasty. But there are no
+flies here, and if there were I could not see to catch them in the dim
+light. I am like, therefore, to get a beating which will kill me.'
+
+'Leave that to me,' said the Frog, 'I will quickly get you some.'
+
+Thereupon the Frog smeared sugar all over herself, and the same was done
+by more than six thousand of her froggy friends. They then made for a
+place where the fairy had a large store of flies, which she used to
+torment some of her luckless victims. No sooner did the flies smell the
+sugar than they flew to it, and found themselves sticking to the frogs.
+Away, then, went the latter at a gallop, to bring their friendly aid to
+the queen. Never was there such a catching of flies before, nor a better
+pasty than the one the queen made for the fairy. The surprise of the
+Witch was great when the queen handed it to her, for she was baffled to
+think how the flies could have been so cleverly caught.
+
+The queen suffered so much from want of protection against the poisonous
+air that she cut down some cypress branches and began to build herself a
+hut. The Frog kindly offered her services. She summoned round her all
+those who had helped in the fly hunt, and they assisted the queen to
+build as pretty a little place to live in as you could find anywhere in
+the world.
+
+But no sooner had she lain down to rest than the monsters of the lake,
+envious of her repose, gathered round the hut. They set up the most
+hideous noise that had ever been heard, and drove her so nearly mad that
+she got up and fled in fear and trembling from the house. This was just
+what the monsters were after, and a dragon, who had once upon a time
+ruled tyrannously over one of the greatest countries of the world,
+immediately took possession of it.
+
+The poor queen tried to protest against this ill-treatment. But no one
+would listen to her: the monsters laughed and jeered at her, and the
+Lion-Witch said that if she came and dinned lamentations into her ears
+again she would give her a sound thrashing.
+
+The queen was therefore obliged to hold her tongue. She sought out the
+Frog, who was the most sympathetic creature in the world, and they wept
+together; for the moment she put on her cap of roses the Frog became
+able to laugh or weep like anybody else.
+
+'I am so fond of you,' said the Frog to the queen, 'that I will build
+your house again, though every monster in the lake should be filled with
+envy.'
+
+Forthwith she cut some wood, and a little country mansion for the queen
+sprang up so quickly that she was able to sleep in it that very night.
+Nothing that could make for the queen's comfort was forgotten by the
+Frog, and there was even a bed of wild thyme.
+
+When the wicked fairy learnt that the queen was not sleeping on the
+ground, she sent for her and asked:
+
+'What power is it, human or divine, that protects you? This land drinks
+only a rain of burning sulphur, and has never produced so much as a
+sage-leaf: yet they tell me fragrant herbs spring up beneath your feet.'
+
+'I cannot explain it, madam,' said the queen, 'unless it is due to the
+child I am expecting. Perhaps for her a less unhappy fate than mine is
+in store.'
+
+'I have a craving just now,' said the Witch, 'for a posy of rare
+flowers. See if this happiness which you expect will enable you to get
+them. If you do not succeed, such a thrashing as I know well how to give
+is surely in store for you.'
+
+The queen began to weep, for threats like these distressed her, and she
+despaired as she thought of the impossibility of finding flowers. But
+when she returned to her little house, the friendly Frog met her.
+
+'How unhappy you look!' she said.
+
+'Alas, dear friend,' said the queen, 'who would not be so? The Witch has
+demanded a posy of the most beautiful flowers. Where am I to find them?
+You see what sort of flowers grow here! Yet my life is forfeit if I do
+not procure them.'
+
+'Dear queen,' said the Frog tenderly, 'we must do our best to extricate
+you from this dilemma. Hereabouts there lives a bat of my
+acquaintance--a kindly soul. She moves about more quickly than I do, so
+I will give her my cap of roses, and with the aid of this she will be
+able to find you flowers.'
+
+The queen curtseyed low, it being quite impossible to embrace the Frog,
+and the latter went off at once to speak to the bat. In a few hours the
+bat came back with some exquisite flowers tucked under her wings. Off
+went the queen with them to the Witch, who was more astonished than
+ever, being quite unable to understand in what marvellous way the queen
+had been assisted.
+
+The queen never ceased to plot some means of escape, and told the Frog
+of her longings. 'Madam,' said the latter, 'allow me first to take
+counsel with my little cap, and we will make plans according to what it
+advises.' Having placed her cap upon some straw, she burnt in front of
+it a few juniper twigs, some capers, and a couple of green peas. She
+then croaked five times. This completed the rites, and having donned her
+cap again, she began to speak like an oracle.
+
+'Fate, the all-powerful, decrees that you must not leave this place.
+You will have a little princess more beautiful than Venus herself. Let
+nothing fret you; time alone can heal.'
+
+The queen bowed her head and shed tears, but she determined to have
+faith in the friend she had found. 'Whatever happens,' she said, 'do not
+leave me here alone, and befriend me when my little one is born.' The
+Frog promised to remain with her, and did her best to comfort her.
+
+It is now time to return to the king. So long as the enemy kept him
+confined within his capital he could not regularly send messengers to
+the queen. But at length, after many sorties, he forced the enemy to
+raise the siege. This success gave him pleasure not so much on his own
+account, as for the sake of the queen, who could now be brought home in
+safety. He knew nothing of the disaster which had befallen her, for none
+of his retinue had dared to tell him of it. They had found in the forest
+the remains of the chariot, the runaway horses, and the apparel in which
+she had driven forth to find her husband, and being convinced that she
+was killed or devoured by wild beasts, their one idea was to make the
+king believe that she had died suddenly.
+
+It seemed as if the king could not survive this mournful news. He tore
+his hair, wept bitterly, and lamented his loss with all manner of
+sorrowful cries and sobs and sighs. For several days he would see
+nobody, and hid himself from view. Later, he returned to his capital and
+entered upon a long period of mourning, to the sincerity of which his
+heartfelt sorrow bore even plainer testimony than his sombre garb of
+woe. His royal neighbours all sent ambassadors with messages of
+condolence, and when the ceremonies proper to these occasions were at
+length over, he proclaimed a period of peace. He released his subjects
+from military service, and devoted himself to giving them every
+assistance in the development of commerce.
+
+Of all this the queen knew nothing. A little princess had been born to
+her in the meantime, and her beauty did not belie the Frog's prediction.
+They gave her the name of Moufette, but the queen had great difficulty
+in persuading the Witch to let her bring up the child, for her ferocity
+was such that she would have liked to eat it.
+
+At the age of six months Moufette was a marvel of beauty, and often, as
+she gazed upon her with mingled tenderness and pity, the queen would
+say:
+
+'Could your father but see you, my poor child, how delighted he would
+be, and how dear you would be to him! But perhaps even now he has begun
+to forget me: doubtless he believes that death has robbed him of us, and
+it may be that another now fills the place I had in his affections.'
+
+Many were the tears she shed over these sad thoughts, and the Frog,
+whose love for her was sincere, was moved one day by the sight of her
+grief to say to her:
+
+'If you like, Madam, I will go and seek your royal husband. It is a long
+journey, and I am but a tardy traveller, but sooner or later I have no
+doubt I shall get there.'
+
+[Illustration: "COULD YOUR FATHER BUT SEE YOU, MY POOR CHILD."]
+
+No suggestion could have been more warmly approved, the queen clasping
+her hands, and bidding little Moufette do the same, in token of the
+gratitude she felt towards the good Frog for offering to make the
+expedition. Nor would the king, she declared, be less grateful. 'Of what
+advantage, however,' she went on, 'will it be to him to learn that I
+am in this dire abode, since it will be impossible for him to rescue me
+from it?'
+
+'That we must leave to Providence, Madam,' said the Frog; 'we can but
+make those efforts of which we are capable.'
+
+They took farewell of each other, and the queen sent a message to the
+king. This was written with her blood on a piece of rag, for she had
+neither ink nor paper. The good Frog was bringing him news of herself,
+she wrote, and she implored him to give heed to all that she might tell
+him, and to believe everything she had to say.
+
+It took the Frog a year and four days to climb the ten thousand steps
+which led from the gloomy realm in which she had left the queen, up into
+the world. Another year was spent in preparing her equipage, for she was
+too proud to consent to appear at Court like a poor and humble frog from
+the marshes. A little sedan-chair was made for her, large enough to hold
+a couple of eggs comfortably, and this was covered outside with
+tortoise-shell and lined with lizard-skin. From the little green frogs
+that hop about the meadows she selected fifty to act as maids of honour,
+and each of these was mounted on a snail. They had dainty saddles, and
+rode in dashing style with the leg thrown over the saddle-bow. A
+numerous bodyguard of rats, dressed like pages, ran before the
+snails--in short, nothing so captivating had ever been seen before. To
+crown all, the cap of roses, which never faded but was always in full
+bloom, most admirably became her. Being something of a coquette, too,
+she could not refrain from a touch of rouge and a patch or two; indeed,
+some said she was painted like a great many other ladies of the land,
+but it has been proved by inquiry that this report had its origin with
+her enemies.
+
+The journey lasted seven years, and during all that time the poor queen
+endured unutterable pain and suffering. Had it not been for the solace
+of the beautiful Moufette she must have died a hundred times. Every word
+that the dear little creature uttered filled her with delight; indeed,
+with the exception of the Lion-Witch, there was nobody who was not
+charmed by her.
+
+There came at length a day, after the queen had lived for six years in
+this dismal region, when the Witch told her that she could go hunting
+with her, on condition that she yielded up everything which she killed.
+The queen's joy when she once more saw the sun may be imagined; though
+at first she thought she would be blinded, so unaccustomed to its light
+had she become. So quick and lively was Moufette, even at five or six
+years of age, that she never failed in her aim, and mother and daughter
+together were thus able to appease somewhat the fierce instincts of the
+Witch.
+
+Meanwhile the Frog was travelling over hills and valleys. Day or night,
+she never stopped, and at last she came nigh to the capital, where the
+king was now in residence. To her astonishment signs of festivity met
+her eye at every turn; on all sides there was merriment, song and
+dancing, and the nearer she came to the city the more festive seemed the
+mood of the people. All flocked with amazement to see her rustic
+retinue, and by the time she reached the city the crowd had become so
+large that it was with difficulty she made her way to the palace.
+
+[Illustration: '_The journey lasted seven years_']
+
+At the palace all was splendour, for the king, who had been deprived
+of his wife's society for nine years, had at last yielded to the
+petitions of his subjects, and was about to wed a princess who possessed
+many amiable qualities, though she lacked, admittedly, the beauty of his
+wife.
+
+The good Frog descended from her sedan-chair, and with her attendants in
+her train entered the royal presence. To request an audience was
+unnecessary, for the king and his intended bride and all the princes
+were much too curious to learn why she had come to think of interrupting
+her.
+
+'Sire,' said the Frog, 'I am in doubt whether the news I bring will
+cause you joy or sorrow. I can only conclude, from the marriage which
+you are proposing to celebrate, that you are no longer faithful to your
+queen.'
+
+Tears fell from the king's eyes. 'Her memory is as dear to me as ever,'
+he declared; 'but you must know, good Frog, that monarchs cannot always
+follow their own wishes. For nine years now my subjects have been urging
+me to take a wife, and indeed it is due to them that there should be an
+heir to the throne. Hence my choice of this young princess, whose charms
+are apparent.'
+
+'I warn you not to marry her,' rejoined the Frog; 'the queen is not
+dead, and I am the bearer of a letter from her, writ in her own blood.
+There has been born to you a little daughter, Moufette, who is more
+beautiful than the very heavens.'
+
+The king took the rag on which the short message from the queen was
+written. He kissed it and moistened it with his tears; and declared,
+holding it up for all to see, that he recognised the handwriting of his
+wife. Then he plied the Frog with endless questions, to all of which she
+replied with lively intelligence.
+
+The princess who was to have been queen, and the envoys who were
+attending the marriage ceremony, were somewhat out of countenance.
+'Sire,' said one of the most distinguished guests, turning to the king,
+'can you contemplate the breaking of your solemn pledge upon the word of
+a toad like that? This scum of the marshes has the audacity to come and
+lie to the entire Court, just for the gratification of being listened
+to!'
+
+'I would have you know, your Excellency,' replied the Frog, 'that I am
+no scum of the marshes. Since you force me to display my powers--hither,
+fairies all!'
+
+At these words the frogs, the rats, the snails, and the lizards all
+suddenly ranged themselves behind the Frog. But in place of their
+familiar natural forms, they appeared now as tall, majestic figures,
+handsome of mien, and with eyes that outshone the stars. Each wore a
+crown of jewels on his head, while over his shoulders hung a royal
+mantle of velvet, lined with ermine, the train of which was borne by
+dwarfs. Simultaneously the sound of trumpets, drums, and hautboys filled
+the air with martial melody, and all the fairies began to dance a
+ballet, with step so light that the least spring lifted them to the
+vaulted ceiling of the chamber.
+
+The astonishment of the king and his future bride was in no way
+diminished when the fairy dancers suddenly changed before their eyes
+into flowers--jasmine, jonquils, violets, roses, and carnations--which
+carried on the dance just as though they were possessed of legs and
+feet. It was as though a flower-bed had come to life, every movement of
+which gave pleasure alike to eye and nostril. A moment later the flowers
+vanished, and in their place were fountains of leaping water that fell
+in a cascade and formed a lake beneath the castle walls. On the surface
+of the lake were little boats, painted and gilt, so pretty and dainty
+that the princess challenged the ambassadors to a voyage. None hesitated
+to do so, for they thought it was all a gay pastime, and a merry prelude
+to the marriage festivities. But no sooner had they embarked than boats,
+fountains, and lake vanished, and the frogs were frogs once more.
+
+'Sire,' said the Frog, when the king asked what had become of the
+princess, 'your wife alone is your queen. Were my affection for her less
+than it is, I should not interfere; but she deserves so well, and your
+daughter Moufette is so charming, that you ought not to lose one moment
+in setting out to their rescue.'
+
+'I do assure you, Madam Frog,' replied the king, 'that if I could
+believe my wife to be alive, I would shrink from nothing in the world
+for sight of her again.'
+
+'Surely,' said the Frog, 'after the marvels I have shown you, there
+ought not to be doubt in your mind of the truth of what I say. Leave
+your realm in the hands of those whom you can trust, and set forth
+without delay. Take this ring--it will provide you with the means of
+seeing the queen, and of speaking with the Lion-Witch, notwithstanding
+that she is the most formidable creature in the world.'
+
+The king refused to let any one accompany him, and after bestowing
+handsome gifts upon the Frog, he set forth. 'Do not lose heart,' she
+said to him; 'you will encounter terrible difficulties, but I am
+convinced that your desires will meet with success.' He plucked up
+courage at these words, and started upon the quest of his dear wife,
+though he had only the ring to guide him.
+
+Now Moufette's beauty became more and more perfect as she grew older,
+and all the monsters of the lake of quicksilver were enamoured of her.
+Hideous and terrifying to behold, they came and lay at her feet.
+Although Moufette had seen them ever since she was born, her lovely eyes
+could never grow accustomed to them, and she would run away and hide in
+her mother's arms. 'Shall we remain here long?' she would ask; 'are we
+never to escape from misery?'
+
+The queen would answer hopefully, so as to keep up the spirits of the
+child, but in her heart hope had died. The absence of the Frog and the
+lack of any news from her, together with the long time that had passed
+since she had heard anything of the king, filled her with grief and
+despair.
+
+By now it had become a regular thing for them to go hunting with the
+Lion-Witch. The latter liked good things, and enjoyed the game which
+they killed for her. The head or the feet of the quarry was all the
+share they got, but there was compensation in being allowed to look
+again upon the daylight. The Witch would take the shape of a lioness,
+and the queen and her daughter would seat themselves on her back. In
+this fashion they ranged the forests a-hunting.
+
+One day, when the king was resting in a forest to which his ring had
+guided him, he saw them shoot by like an arrow from the bow. They did
+not perceive him, and when he tried to follow them he lost sight of them
+completely. The queen was still as beautiful as of old, despite all that
+she had suffered, and she seemed to her husband more attractive than
+ever, so that he longed to have her with him again. He felt certain that
+the young princess with her was his dear little Moufette, and he
+resolved to face death a thousand times rather than abandon his
+intention of rescuing her.
+
+With the assistance of his ring he penetrated to the gloomy region in
+which the queen had been for so many years. His astonishment was great
+to find himself descending to the centre of the earth, but with every
+new thing that met his eyes his amazement grew greater.
+
+The Lion-Witch, from whom nothing was hid, knew well the day and hour of
+his destined arrival. Much did she wish that the powers in league with
+her could have ordered things otherwise, but she resolved to pit her
+strength against his to the full.
+
+She built a palace of crystal which floated in the midst of the lake of
+quicksilver, rising and falling on its waves. Therein she imprisoned the
+queen and her daughter, and assembling the monsters, who were all
+admirers of Moufette, she gave them this warning:
+
+'You will lose this beautiful princess if you do not help me to keep her
+from a gallant who has come to bear her away.'
+
+The monsters vowed that they would do everything in their power, and
+forthwith they surrounded the palace of crystal. The less heavy
+stationed themselves upon the roofs and walls, others mounted guard at
+the doors, while the remainder filled the lake.
+
+Following the dictates of his faithful ring, the king went first to the
+Witch's cavern. She was waiting for him in the form of a lioness, and
+the moment he appeared she sprang upon him. But she was not prepared for
+his valiant swordsmanship, and as she put forth a paw to fell him to
+the ground, he cut it off at the elbow-joint. She yelped loudly and
+fell over, whereupon he went up to her and set his foot upon her throat,
+swearing that he would kill her. Notwithstanding her uncontrollable
+rage, and the fact that she had nothing to fear from wounds, she felt
+cowed by him.
+
+'What do you seek to do to me?' she asked; 'what do you want of me?'
+
+'I intend to punish you,' replied the king with dignity, 'for having
+carried away my wife. Deliver her up to me, or I will strangle you on
+the spot.'
+
+'Turn your eyes to the lake,' she answered, 'and see if it lies in my
+power to do so.'
+
+The king followed the direction she indicated, and saw the queen and her
+daughter in the palace of crystal, where it floated like a boat without
+oars or rudder on the lake of quicksilver. He was like to die of mingled
+joy and sorrow. He shouted to them at the top of his voice, and they
+heard him. But how was he to reach them?
+
+While he pondered a plan for the accomplishment of this, the Lion-Witch
+vanished. He ran round and round the lake, but no sooner did the palace
+draw near enough, at one point or another, to let him make a spring for
+it, than it suddenly receded with menacing speed. As often as his hopes
+were raised they were dashed to the ground.
+
+Fearing that he would presently tire, the queen cried to him that he
+must not lose courage, for the Lion-Witch sought to wear him down, but
+that true love could brave all obstacles. She stretched out imploring
+hands, and so did Moufette. At sight of this the king felt his courage
+renewed within him. Lifting his voice, he declared that he would rather
+live the rest of his life in this dismal region than go away without
+them.
+
+Patience he certainly needed, for no monarch in the world ever spent
+such a miserable time. There was only the ground, cumbered with briars
+and thorns, for bed, and for food he had only wild fruit more bitter
+than gall. In addition, he was under the perpetual necessity of
+defending himself from the monsters of the lake.
+
+Three years went by in this fashion, and the king could not pretend that
+he had gained the least advantage. He was almost in despair, and many a
+time was tempted to cast himself into the lake. He would have done so
+without hesitation had there been any hope that thereby the sufferings
+of the queen and the princess could be alleviated.
+
+One day as he was running, after his custom, from one side of the lake
+to the other, he was hailed by one of the ugliest of the dragons. 'Swear
+by your crown and sceptre, by your kingly robe, by your wife and child,'
+said the monster, 'to give me a certain tit-bit to eat for which I have
+a fancy, whenever I shall ask for it, and I will take you on my back:
+none of the monsters in this lake which are guarding the palace will
+prevent us from carrying away the queen and Princess Moufette.'
+
+'Best of dragons!' cried the king; 'I swear to you, and to all of dragon
+blood, that you shall have your fill of whatsoever you desire, and I
+will be for ever your devoted servant.'
+
+'Promise nothing which you do not mean to fulfil,' replied the dragon;
+'for otherwise life-long misfortunes may overwhelm you.'
+
+The king repeated his assurances, for he was dying of impatience to
+regain his beloved queen, and mounted the dragon just as though he were
+the most dashing of steeds. But now the other monsters rushed to bar the
+way. The combat was joined, and nought was audible save the hissing of
+the serpents, nought visible save the brimstone, fire and sulphur, which
+were belched forth in every direction.
+
+The king reached the palace at last, but there fresh efforts were
+required of him, for the entrances were defended by bats and owls and
+ravens. But even the boldest of these was torn to pieces by the dragon,
+who attacked them tooth and nail. The queen, too, who was a spectator of
+this savage fight, kicked down chunks of the wall, and armed with these
+helped her dear husband in the fray. Victory at length rested with them,
+and as they flew to one another's arms, the enchantment was brought to
+an end by a thunderbolt which plunged into the lake and dried it up.
+
+The friendly dragon vanished, along with all the other monsters, and the
+king found himself (by what means he had not the least idea) home again
+in his own city, and seated, with his queen and Moufette beside him, in
+a splendid dining-hall before a table laid with the richest fare. Never
+before was there such amazement and delight as theirs. The populace came
+running for a sight of the queen and princess, and to add to the wonder
+of it all, the latter was seen to be attired in apparel of such
+magnificence that the gaze was almost dazzled by her jewels.
+
+You can easily imagine what festivities now took place at the palace.
+There were masquerades, and tournaments with tilting at the ring which
+attracted the highest princes from all over the world; even more were
+these drawn by the bright eyes of Moufette.
+
+Amongst the handsomest and most accomplished in skill-at-arms, there was
+none anywhere who could outshine Prince Moufy. He won the applause and
+admiration of all, and Moufette, who had hitherto known only dragons and
+serpents, was not backward in according him her share of praise. Prince
+Moufy was deeply in love with her, and not a day passed but he showed
+her some fresh attention in the hope of gaining her favour. In due
+course he offered himself as a suitor, informing the king and queen that
+his realm was of a richness and extent that might well claim their
+favourable consideration.
+
+The king replied that Moufette should make her own choice of husband,
+for his only wish was to please her and make her happy. With this answer
+the prince was well satisfied, for he was already aware that the
+princess was not indifferent to him. He offered her his hand, and she
+declared that if he were not to be her husband, then no other man should
+be. Prince Moufy threw himself in rapture at her feet, and exacted,
+lover-like, a promise that she would keep her word with him.
+
+The prince and princess were betrothed, and Prince Moufy then returned
+to his own realm, in order to make preparations for the marriage.
+Moufette wept much at his going, for she was oppressed by an
+inexplicable presentiment of evil. The prince likewise was much
+downcast, and the queen, noticing this, gave him a portrait of her
+daughter with an injunction to curtail the splendour of his preparations
+rather than allow his return to be delayed. The prince was nothing loth
+to obey her behest, and promised to adopt a course which so well
+consulted his own happiness.
+
+The princess amused herself with music during his absence, for in a few
+months she had learned to play exceedingly well.
+
+One day, when she was in the queen's apartment, the king rushed in.
+Tears were streaming down his face as he took his daughter in his arms
+and cried aloud: 'Alas, my child! O wretched father! O miserable king!'
+Sobs choked his utterance, and he could say no more.
+
+Greatly alarmed, the queen and princess asked him what had happened, and
+at last he got out that there had just arrived an enormously tall giant,
+who professed to be an envoy of the dragon of the lake; and that in
+pursuance of the promise which the king had given in exchange for
+assistance in fighting the monsters, the dragon demanded that he should
+give up the princess, as he desired to make her into a pie for dinner.
+The king added that he had bound himself by solemn oaths to give the
+dragon what he asked--and in the days of which we are telling no one
+ever broke his word.
+
+The queen received this dire news with piercing shrieks, and clasped her
+child to her bosom. 'My life shall be forfeit,' she cried, 'ere my
+daughter is delivered up to this monster. Let him rather take our
+kingdom and all that we have. Unnatural father! Is it possible you can
+consent to such cruelty? What! My child to be made into a pie! The bare
+notion is intolerable! Send this grim envoy to me; it may be the
+spectacle of my anguish will soften his heart.'
+
+The king said nothing, but went in quest of the giant. He brought him to
+the queen, who flung herself at his feet with her daughter. She begged
+him to have mercy, and to persuade the dragon to take all that they
+possessed, but to spare Moufette's life. The giant replied, however,
+that the matter did not rest with him. The dragon, he said, was so
+obstinate, and so addicted to the pleasures of the table, that no power
+on earth would restrain him from eating what he had a mind to make a
+meal of. Furthermore, he counselled them, as a friend, to yield with a
+good grace lest greater ills should be in store. At these words the
+queen fainted, and the princess would have been in similar case, if she
+had not been obliged to go to the assistance of her mother.
+
+No sooner was the dreadful news known throughout the palace than it
+spread all over the city. On all sides there was weeping and wailing,
+for Moufette was greatly beloved.
+
+The king could not bring himself to give her up to the giant, and the
+latter, after waiting several days, grew restive and began to utter
+terrible threats. But the king and queen, taking counsel together, were
+agreed. 'What is there worse that could happen to us?' they said; 'if
+the dragon of the lake were to come and eat us all up, we could not
+suffer more, for if Moufette is put into a pie that will be the end of
+us.'
+
+Presently the giant informed them that he had received a message from
+the dragon, to the effect that if the princess would agree to marry one
+of his nephews, he would spare her life. This nephew was not only young
+and handsome, but a prince to boot; and there was no doubt of her being
+able to live very happily with him.
+
+This proposal somewhat assuaged their grief, but when the queen
+mentioned it to the princess, she found her more ready to face death
+than entertain this marriage. 'I cannot break faith just to save my
+life,' said Moufette; 'you promised me to Prince Moufy, and I will marry
+none else. Let me perish, for my death will enable you to live in
+peace.' The king in his turn tried, with many endearments, to persuade
+her, but she could not be moved. Finally, therefore, it was arranged
+that she should be conducted to a mountain-top, there to await the
+dragon.
+
+Everything was made ready for the great sacrificial rite, and nothing so
+mournful had ever been seen before. Black garments and pale, distraught
+faces were encountered at every turn. Four hundred maidens of the
+noblest birth, clad in long white robes and wearing crowns of cypress,
+accompanied the princess. The latter was borne in an open litter of
+black velvet, that all men might behold the wondrous miracle of her
+beauty. Her tresses, tied with crape, hung over her shoulders, and she
+wore a crown of jasmine and marigolds. The only thing that seemed to
+affect her was the grief of the king and queen, who walked behind her,
+overwhelmed with the burden of their sorrow. Beside the litter strode
+the giant, armed from top to toe, and looking hungrily at the princess,
+as though already he savoured his share of the dish she was to make. The
+air was filled with sighs and sobs, and the tears of the spectators made
+rivulets along the road.
+
+'O Frog, dear Frog,' cried the queen; 'you have indeed forsaken me! Why
+give me help in that dismal place and refuse it to me here? Had I but
+died then, I should not now be mourning the end of all my hopes, and I
+should have been spared the agony of waiting to see my darling Moufette
+devoured.'
+
+Slowly the procession made its way to the summit of the fatal mountain.
+On arrival there the cries and lamentations broke out with renewed
+force, and a more pitiful noise was never heard before. The giant then
+directed that all farewells must be said, and a general withdrawal made,
+and his order was obeyed. Folks in those days were docile and obedient,
+and never thought of combating ill-fortune.
+
+The king and queen, with all the Court, now climbed another hill-top,
+from which they could obtain a view of all that happened to the
+princess. They had not long to wait, for they quickly espied a dragon,
+half a league long, sailing through the sky. He flew laboriously, for
+his bulk was so great that even six large wings could hardly support it.
+His body was covered all over with immense blue scales and tongues of
+poison flame, his twisted tail had fifty coils and another half coil
+beyond that, while his claws were each as big as a windmill. His jaws
+were agape, and inside could be seen three rows of teeth as long as an
+elephant's tusks.
+
+Now while the dragon was slowly wending his way to the mountain-top, the
+good and faithful Frog, mounted on a hawk's back, was flying at full
+speed to Prince Moufy. She was wearing her cap of roses, and though he
+was locked in his privy chamber she needed no key to enter.
+
+'Hapless lover!' she cried; 'what are you doing here? This very moment,
+while you sit dreaming about her beauty, Moufette is in direst peril!
+See, here is a rose-leaf; I have but to blow upon it and it will become
+a mettlesome steed.'
+
+As she spoke there suddenly appeared a green horse. It had twelve hoofs
+and three heads, and from the latter it could spit forth fire,
+bomb-shells, and cannon-balls respectively. The Frog then gave the
+prince a sword, eight yards long and no heavier than a feather, and a
+garment fashioned out of a single diamond. This he slipped on like a
+coat, and though it was hard as rock it was so pliant that his movements
+were in no way impeded.
+
+'Now fly to the rescue of your love,' said the Frog; 'the green horse
+will carry you to her. Do not omit to let her know, when you have
+delivered her, of what my part has been.'
+
+'Great-hearted fairy!' cried the prince, 'this is no moment to return
+you thanks, but from henceforth I am your faithful servant.'
+
+Off went the horse with the three heads, galloping on its twelve hoofs
+three times as fast, and more, than the best of ordinary steeds; and in
+a very short time the prince had reached the mountain, where he found
+his dear princess all alone.
+
+As the dragon slowly drew near, the green horse began to throw out fire,
+bomb-shells, and cannon-balls, which greatly disconcerted the monster.
+Twenty balls lodged in his throat, his scaly armour was dinted, and the
+bomb-shells put out one of his eyes. This enraged him, and he tried to
+hurl himself upon the prince. But the latter's long sword was so finely
+tempered that he could do what he liked with it, and now he plunged it
+in up to the hilt, now cut with it as though it had been a whip. The
+prince would have suffered, however, from the dragon's claws had it not
+been for his diamond coat, which was impenetrable.
+
+Moufette had recognised her lover from afar, for the gleaming diamond
+which covered him was transparent; and she was like to die of terror at
+the risk he ran. The king and queen, however, felt hope revive within
+them. They had little thought to see arriving so opportunely a horse
+with three heads and twelve hoofs that breathed forth fire and flame,
+nor yet a prince, in diamond mail, and armed with so redoubtable a
+sword, who performed such prodigies of valour. The king put his hat on
+the end of his stick, the queen tied a handkerchief to hers, and with
+all the Court following suit, there was no lack of signals of
+encouragement to the prince. Not that such were necessary, for his own
+stout heart and the peril in which he saw Moufette were enough to keep
+his courage up.
+
+Heavens, how he fought! Barbs, talons, horns, wings, and scales fell
+from the dragon till the ground was covered with them, and the soil was
+dyed blue and green with the mingled blood of dragon and horse. Five
+times the prince was unhorsed, but each time he picked himself up and
+composedly mounted his steed again. Then would follow such cannonades,
+bombardments, and flame-throwing as had never been seen or heard of
+before.
+
+At length, its strength exhausted, the dragon fell, and the prince
+delivered a finishing stroke. None could believe their eyes when from
+the gaping wound so made there stepped forth a handsome and elegant
+prince, clad in a coat of blue and gold velvet, embroidered with pearls,
+and wearing on his head a little Grecian helmet with a crest of white
+feathers. With outstretched hands this new-comer ran to Prince Moufy and
+embraced him.
+
+'How can I ever repay you, my gallant deliverer?' he cried. 'Never was
+monarch confined in a more dreadful prison than the one from which you
+have freed me. It is sixteen years since the Lion-Witch condemned me to
+it, and I have languished there ever since. Moreover, such is her power
+that she would have obliged me, against my will, to devour that sweet
+princess. I beg you to let me pay my respects to her, and explain my
+hapless plight!'
+
+Astonished and delighted by the remarkable way in which his adventure
+had ended, Prince Moufy lavished courtesies upon the newly-discovered
+prince. Together they went to Moufette, who rendered thanks a thousand
+times to Providence for her unexpected happiness. Already the king and
+queen and all the Court had joined her, and everybody spoke at once, and
+nobody listened to anybody, while nearly as many tears were shed for joy
+as a little time ago had been shed for grief. And finally, to set the
+crown on their rejoicing, the good Frog was espied flying through the
+air on her hawk. The latter had little golden bells upon its feet, and
+when the faint tinkling of these caused every one to look up, there was
+the Frog, beautiful as the dawn, with her cap of roses shining like the
+sun.
+
+The queen ran to her and took her by one of her little paws. At that
+instant the wise Frog was transformed into a majestic royal lady of
+gracious mien. 'I come,' she cried, 'to crown the faithful Moufette, who
+preferred to face death rather than break her word to Prince Moufy.'
+With these words she placed two myrtle wreaths upon the lovers' heads;
+and at a signal of three taps from her wand the dragon's bones rose up
+and formed a triumphal arch to commemorate the auspicious occasion.
+
+Back to the city went all the company, singing wedding songs as gladly
+as they had previously with sorrow bewailed the sacrifice of the
+princess. On the morrow the marriage took place, and with what
+festivities it was solemnised may be left to the imagination.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS ROSETTE
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who had two handsome boys,
+and so well looked after were the latter that they grew apace, like the
+daylight.
+
+The queen never had a child without summoning the fairies to be present
+at the birth, and she always begged them to tell what its future was to
+be. When in due course she had a beautiful little daughter--so pretty
+that one could not set eyes on her without loving her--all the fairies
+came to visit her, and were hospitably entertained. As they were making
+ready to go, the queen said to them:
+
+'Do not forget your friendly custom, but tell me what fortune awaits
+Rosette.' Such was the name which had been given to the little princess.
+
+The fairies replied that they had left their magic books at home, but
+would come and see her some other time.
+
+'Ah,' said the queen, 'that bodes ill. You are anxious not to distress
+me by an unhappy prophecy. But tell me all, I implore you, and hide
+nothing from me.'
+
+The fairies did their utmost to excuse themselves. But the queen became
+more and more eager to learn everything, and at last the chief of them
+made a declaration.
+
+'We fear, Madam,' she said, 'that Rosette will bring disaster on her
+brothers, and that in some fashion she will be the cause of their death.
+This much and no more can we foretell of the pretty child, and we are
+grieved that we should have no better news to give you.'
+
+Then the fairies went away, and the queen was left grieving.
+
+So deep was her grief that the king saw it in her face, and asked what
+ailed her. She had gone too near the fire, she told him, and had burnt
+all the flax that was on her distaff.
+
+'Is that all?' said the king, and going up to his storeroom he brought
+her more flax than she could have spun in a hundred years.
+
+But the queen continued sad, and again the king asked what ailed her.
+She declared that in walking by the river she had let her green satin
+slipper fall into the water.
+
+'Is that all?' said the king, and summoning all the shoemakers in the
+kingdom he brought her ten thousand green satin slippers.
+
+Still she grieved, and once more he asked what ailed her. She told him
+that in eating with rather too vigorous an appetite she had swallowed
+her wedding-ring, which had been on her finger. The king knew at once
+that she was not telling the truth, for he had put away this ring
+himself.
+
+'My dear wife,' he said, 'you lie; I put away your ring in my
+purse--here it is!'
+
+She was not a little confused at being caught telling a lie (for there
+is nothing in the world so ugly), and she saw that the king was
+displeased. She told him, therefore, what the fairies had prophesied of
+little Rosette, and implored him to say if he could think of any good
+remedy.
+
+The king was plunged in the deepest melancholy, so much so that he
+remarked on one occasion to the queen: 'I see no other means of saving
+our two sons but to bring about the death of our little child while she
+is still in long clothes.' But the queen exclaimed that she would rather
+suffer death herself. She would never consent, she declared, to such a
+cruel course, and he must think of something else.
+
+The royal pair were at their wits' end when the queen was told that in a
+forest near the city there lived an aged hermit. His habitation was a
+hollow tree, and folks were wont to seek his advice upon all manner of
+things. 'I too must go there,' said the queen; 'the fairies have warned
+me of the evil, but they have forgotten to tell me of the remedy.'
+
+She rose betimes and mounted a dainty little white mule that was shod
+with gold, and took with her two of her ladies, each riding a bonny
+horse. When they had entered the wood they dismounted, as a sign of
+deference, and presented themselves at the tree where the hermit lived.
+The latter had an aversion from the sight of women, but on recognising
+the queen he addressed her.
+
+'You are welcome,' he said; 'what do you want of me?'
+
+She told him what the fairies had said of Rosette, and begged for
+advice. His reply was that the princess must be placed in a tower and
+never be allowed to leave it. The queen tendered her thanks, and having
+bestowed liberal alms upon him, returned to tell everything to the king.
+
+When the king had heard her news he gave orders at once for a great
+tower to be built. In this the princess was shut up, and to keep her
+amused the king and queen and her two brothers went every day to see
+her. The elder boy was known as the Big Prince, and the younger as the
+Little Prince. Both were passionately attached to their sister, for she
+had such beauty and charm as had never been seen before. For the
+lightest of looks from her many would have paid a hundred gold pieces
+and more.
+
+When the princess was fifteen years old the Big Prince spoke of her to
+his father. 'My sister is old enough now to marry, Sire,' he said;
+'shall we not soon be celebrating her wedding?' The Little Prince said
+the same thing to his mother. But their royal parents turned the
+conversation and made no answer on the subject of the marriage.
+
+One day the king and queen were stricken by a grievous malady, and died
+almost within twenty-four hours. Throughout the realm there was
+mourning; every one wore black, and on all sides the tolling of bells
+was heard. Rosette was grieved beyond consolation by the death of her
+dear mother.
+
+But when the royal dead had been interred, the noblemen of the realm set
+the Big Prince upon a throne of gold and diamonds, robed him in purple
+velvet embroidered with suns and moons, and placed a splendid crown upon
+his head. Then all the Court cried aloud three times: 'Long live the
+King!' and there followed universal festivities and rejoicings.
+
+'Now that we are in power,' said the king and his brother as soon as
+they could converse in private, 'we must release our sister from the
+tower in which she has languished so long.' They had only to cross the
+garden to reach the tower, which was built in a corner. It had been
+reared as high as possible, for it had been the intention of the late
+king and queen that their daughter should remain in it for life.
+
+Rosette was busy with embroidery when her brothers entered, but on
+catching sight of them she rose and left the frame at which she was
+working. Taking the king's hand, she said: 'Good-morrow, Sire; you are
+king to-day, and I am your humble servant. I implore you to release me
+from the tower in which I have been languishing so long.' And with these
+words she burst into tears.
+
+The king embraced her and told her not to weep, for he had come to take
+her from the tower and establish her in a beautiful castle. The prince,
+who had brought a pocketful of sweets to give to Rosette, added his
+word. 'Come,' he said, 'let us leave this hateful tower, and do not be
+unhappy any longer. Very soon the king will find a husband for you.'
+
+When Rosette saw the beautiful garden, with all its flowers and fruit
+and its many fountains, she was overcome with amazement and could not
+speak a word. She had never before seen anything of the kind. She looked
+about her on all sides, and then ran hither and thither, picking the
+fruit from the trees and the flowers from the beds, while her little dog
+Frillikin (who was as green as a parrot, had only one ear, and could
+dance deliciously) capered in front of her, yapping his loudest, and
+amusing everybody present by his absurd gambols.
+
+[Illustration: _Princess Rosette_]
+
+Presently Frillikin dashed into a little copse, and the princess
+followed. Never was any one so struck with wonder as she, to behold
+there a great peacock with tail outspread. So beautiful, so exquisitely
+and perfectly beautiful did it seem to her that she could not take away
+her eyes. When the king and the prince joined her they asked what it
+was that had so taken her fancy. She pointed to the peacock and asked
+what it was, to which they replied that it was a bird that was sometimes
+served at table.
+
+'What?' she cried; 'a bird so beautiful as that to be killed and eaten?
+I tell you, I will marry no one but the King of the Peacocks, and when I
+am queen no one shall ever eat such a dish again!'
+
+No words can express the astonishment of the king. 'My dear sister,' he
+said, 'where do you suppose that we are to find the King of the
+Peacocks?'
+
+'Wherever you please, Sire,' was the answer; 'but I will marry none but
+him!'
+
+After having announced this decision she allowed her brothers to escort
+her to their castle. But so great was the fancy she had taken to the
+peacock that she insisted on its being brought and placed in her
+apartment.
+
+All the ladies of the Court, by whom Rosette had never yet been seen,
+now hastened to pay their dutiful respects. Gifts of every kind were
+proffered to her--sweetmeats and sugar, gay ribbons, and dresses of
+cloth-of-gold, dolls, slippers richly embroidered, with many pearls and
+diamonds. All did their best to show her attention, and she displayed
+such charming manners, kissing hands and curtseying so graciously when
+any gift was offered to her, that not a gentleman or lady of the Court
+but left her presence loud in her praise.
+
+While the princess was being thus entertained, the king and the prince
+were taking counsel as to how they could find the King of the Peacocks,
+supposing such a person did really exist. In pursuit of the plan which
+they formed a portrait was painted of the Princess Rosette, and so
+cunningly wrought was this picture that only speech seemed wanting to
+make it live. Then they said to their sister:
+
+'Since you will marry none but the King of the Peacocks, we are setting
+forth together in quest of him through the wide world. If we find him we
+shall be well rewarded. Wait for our return, and take care of our
+kingdom while we are away.'
+
+Rosette thanked them for the trouble they were taking, and promised to
+govern the kingdom well. She declared that while they were away her only
+pleasures would be to admire the beautiful peacock and make Frillikin
+dance. Their adieux were said with many tears.
+
+Behold, then, the royal pair upon their travels, asking of all whom they
+met: 'Do you know the King of the Peacocks?' The reply from all was 'No,
+we do not.' Then the travellers would pass on and go further, journeying
+in this way so far, far away that no one had ever been so far before.
+
+At last they reached the kingdom of the Cockchafers, and the latter in
+their myriads made so loud a buzzing that the king thought he would go
+deaf. He asked one who seemed more intelligent than the rest if he knew
+whereabouts the King of the Peacocks was to be found.
+
+'Sire,' said the cockchafer, 'his kingdom is thirty thousand leagues
+away; you have taken the longest road to get there.'
+
+'How do you know that?' asked the king.
+
+'Because we know you well,' replied the cockchafer; 'every year we spend
+two or three months in your garden!'
+
+The king and his brother embraced the cockchafer warmly, and struck up
+a great friendship. Arm in arm they all went off to dinner, over which
+the visitors expressed their astonishment at the remarkable features of
+this country, where the smallest leaf from a tree was worth a gold
+piece. Presently they set off for their destination, and as they now
+knew the road they were not long in reaching it. They observed that all
+the trees were full of peacocks; indeed the place held so many of them
+that their screaming as they talked could be heard two leagues away.
+
+'If the King of the Peacocks is himself a peacock,' said the king to his
+brother, 'how can our sister dream of marrying him? It would be folly to
+sanction it. A nice set of relatives she would present to us--a lot of
+little peacocks for nephews!' The prince was equally uneasy in his mind.
+'It was an unfortunate notion to come into her head,' he declared; 'I
+cannot imagine how she ever came to think that such a person as the King
+of the Peacocks existed.'
+
+When they reached the city they found it peopled with men and women, but
+the latter all wore garments fashioned out of peacocks' feathers; and
+from the profusion in which these objects were everywhere to be seen it
+was plain that they were regarded with an intense admiration. They
+encountered the King of the Peacocks, who was out for a drive in a
+splendid little chariot of gold, studded with diamonds, drawn by a dozen
+galloping peacocks.
+
+The King of the Peacocks, fair of complexion, with a crown of peacocks'
+feathers surmounting his long and curly yellow locks, was so extremely
+handsome that the king and prince were delighted with his appearance. He
+guessed from their clothes, so different from those of the natives,
+that they were strangers; but to make sure he caused his carriage to
+stop and summoned them to him.
+
+The king and the prince advanced to meet him, and bowed low. 'We have
+come from far away, Sire,' they said, 'in order to show you a portrait.'
+With these words they drew from the pack which they carried the
+magnificent portrait of Rosette.
+
+'I do not believe,' said the King of the Peacocks, when he had looked
+long and well at it, 'that the world holds so beautiful a maiden.'
+
+'She is a hundred times more beautiful than that,' said the king.
+
+'You are joking,' said the King of the Peacocks.
+
+'Sire,' said the prince, 'this is my brother, who is a monarch like
+yourself: men call him King. For myself, I am known as Prince. This
+portrait shows our sister, the Princess Rosette. We are here to ask if
+you are willing to marry her. She has good sense as well as good looks,
+and we will give her for dowry a bushel of golden crowns.'
+
+'Why, certainly,' said the King of the Peacocks, 'I will marry her with
+all my heart. I promise she shall want for nothing, and I will love her
+truly. But I would have you know that she must be as beautiful as her
+picture, and that if she falls short of it by the least little bit, I
+will put you to death.'
+
+'We accept the conditions,' said Rosette's two brothers.
+
+'You accept?' said the King of the Peacocks. 'Then you must bide in
+prison until the princess has arrived.'
+
+The royal brothers raised no objection to this, for they knew well that
+Rosette was more beautiful than her portrait. The King of the Peacocks
+saw to it that his captives were well looked after, and went often to
+visit them. The portrait of Rosette was placed in his palace, and he was
+so taken up with it that, night or day, he could scarcely sleep.
+
+From prison the king and the prince sent a letter to the princess
+telling her to pack at once all she might require and come as quickly as
+possible, for the King of the Peacocks awaited her. They did not dare to
+mention that they were in prison, lest she should be too uneasy.
+
+When the princess received this letter her transports of delight were
+enough to kill her. She announced to every one that the King of the
+Peacocks had been found, and desired to wed her. Bonfires were lit, guns
+fired, and sugar and sweetmeats eaten in abundance; while for three days
+every one who came to see the princess was treated to bread and butter
+with jam, and cakes and ale.
+
+Having dispensed hospitality in this liberal fashion, the princess gave
+all her beautiful dolls to her dearest friends, and entrusted her
+brother's realm to the wisest elders of the city. She bade them take
+care of everything, spend as little as possible, and save money until
+the king should return. At the same time she begged them to look after
+her peacock.
+
+Taking with her only her nurse and foster-sister, and her little green
+dog Frillikin, she embarked on a vessel and put out to sea. They had
+with them the bushel of golden crowns, and clothes enough to last for
+ten years, with a change of dress twice a day; and they did nothing but
+laugh and sing on the voyage.
+
+Presently the nurse said to the boatman:
+
+'Tell me, tell me, are we near the Land of Peacocks?'
+
+'Not yet, not yet,' replied the boatman.
+
+A little later she asked again:
+
+'Tell me, tell me, are we near it now?'
+
+'Presently, presently,' replied the boatman.
+
+Once more she asked:
+
+'Tell me, tell me, are we near it now?'
+
+[Illustration: _The wicked nurse_]
+
+'Very near, very near,' said the boatman.
+
+When he answered thus the nurse sat down beside him in the stern of the
+boat. 'If you like, you can be rich for ever,' she said to him.
+
+'I should like that well,' replied the boatman.
+
+'If you like,' she went on, 'you can gain good money.'
+
+'I ask nothing better,' said he.
+
+'Very well, then,' said the nurse; 'to-night, when the princess is
+asleep, you must help me to throw her into the sea. When she is drowned
+I will dress up my daughter in her fine clothes, and we will take her to
+the King of the Peacocks, who will be delighted to marry her. You shall
+have your fill of diamonds as reward.'
+
+The boatman was taken aback by this suggestion from the nurse. He
+declared it was a pity to drown so beautiful a princess, and that he had
+compassion for her. But the nurse fetched a bottle of wine, and plied
+him with drink until he no longer had wits enough left to refuse.
+
+When night fell the princess went to sleep, according to her usual
+practice, with little Frillikin comfortably curled up at the foot of the
+bed, stirring not a paw. When Rosette was fast asleep the wicked nurse,
+who had remained awake, went to find the boatman. She took him to the
+cabin where the princess lay, and with the help of the foster-sister
+they lifted her up--feather-bed, mattress, sheets, blankets, and
+all--without disturbing her, and threw her into the sea just as she was.
+So soundly did the princess slumber that she never woke up.
+
+Now luckily her bed was made of feathers from the phoenix, which are
+very rare and have this peculiar virtue that they never sink in water.
+Consequently the princess went floating along in her bed, just as though
+she were in a boat.
+
+Presently, however, the water began little by little to lap first
+against the sides of the feather-bed, then against the mattress, until
+Rosette began to feel uncomfortable. She turned over restlessly, and
+Frillikin woke up. He had a very keen nose, and when he scented the
+soles and the cod-fish so near at hand he began yapping. He barked so
+loudly that he woke up all the other fish, and they began to swim round
+and about. Some of the big fish bumped their heads against the bed, and
+there being nothing to steady the latter it spun round and round like a
+top.
+
+You may imagine how astonished the princess was! 'Is our vessel doing a
+dance upon the water?' she exclaimed; 'I do not remember ever to have
+been so uncomfortable as I am to-night.' And all the time Frillikin was
+barking as though he had taken leave of his senses.
+
+The wicked nurse and the boatman heard him from afar. 'Do you hear
+that?' they exclaimed; 'it is that funny little dog drinking our very
+good health with his mistress! Let us make haste and get ashore.' By
+this time, you must understand, they were lying off the capital of the
+King of the Peacocks.
+
+A hundred carriages had been sent to the water's edge by the king. These
+were drawn by animals of every kind--lions, bears, stags, wolves,
+horses, oxen, asses, eagles, and peacocks. The carriage in which
+Princess Rosette was to be borne was drawn by six blue monkeys which
+could leap and dance upon the tight-rope and perform endless amusing
+antics; these had trappings of crimson velvet, studded with gold plates.
+
+Sixty young girls awaited the coming of the princess. They had been
+selected by the king to be her maids of honour, and their attire, of
+every colour of the rainbow, shone with ornaments of which gold and
+silver were the least precious.
+
+The nurse had taken great pains over the toilette of her daughter. She
+had decked her out in Rosette's most beautiful gown, and placed her
+diamonds on her head. But nothing could disguise the fact that she was
+an ugly little fright. Her hair was black and greasy, she was cross-eyed
+and bow-legged, and in the middle of her back she had a big hump.
+Moreover she was ill-tempered and sulky, and was for ever grumbling.
+
+[Illustration: '_She was an ugly little fright_']
+
+When the people of Peacock Land saw her disembark they were so
+completely taken aback that none could say a word.
+
+'What's the matter with you all?' she demanded; 'have you all gone to
+sleep? Bring me something to eat at once, do you hear? I'll have the
+lot of you hanged, precious riff-raff that you are!'
+
+'What a horrible creature!' murmured the citizens amongst themselves,
+when they heard these threats; 'as ill-tempered as she is ugly! A nice
+bride for our king, or I am much mistaken! It was hardly worth the
+trouble to bring her all the way across the world.' The girl meantime
+continued to behave in most domineering fashion, giving slaps and blows
+to every one without the slightest provocation.
+
+The procession, being very large, was obliged to move slowly, and as the
+carriage bore her along she comported herself as though she were a
+queen. But all the peacocks, who had perched upon the trees to greet her
+as she passed, and had arranged to call out 'Long live the beautiful
+Queen Rosette!' cried out when they saw how horrible she was: 'Fie! fie!
+how ugly she is!' This enraged her, and she called out to her escort:
+'Kill those impudent peacocks: they are insulting me!' But the peacocks
+flew nimbly away, and laughed at her.
+
+The rascally boatman was witness of all that occurred, and whispered to
+the nurse: 'Things are not going well for us, my good woman: your
+daughter should have been prettier.'
+
+'Hold your tongue, stupid!' she replied; 'or you will get us into
+trouble.'
+
+Word was brought to the king that the princess was approaching. 'Well,'
+said he; 'did her brothers speak the truth? Is she more beautiful than
+her portrait?'
+
+'Sire,' said the courtiers, 'if she is only as beautiful, that should be
+enough.'
+
+'Very true!' exclaimed the king. 'I shall be content with that. Let us
+go and see her.'
+
+He could tell from the din which arose from the courtyard that the
+princess had arrived, but the only words he could hear plainly amidst
+the hubbub were cries of 'Fie! fie! how ugly she is!' He supposed people
+must be referring to some dwarf or pet creature which she had perhaps
+brought with her, for it never entered his head that it could be the
+princess herself who was meant.
+
+The portrait of Rosette, uncovered, was hoisted on the end of a long
+pole, and carried in front of the king, who walked in state with his
+barons and peacocks, and the ambassadors from neighbouring kingdoms in
+his train. Great was the impatience of the King of the Peacocks to
+behold his dear Rosette; but when at length he did set eyes on
+her--gracious heavens, it was a wonder the shock did not kill him on the
+spot! He flew into a most terrible rage, rending his clothes, and
+refusing to go near her. Indeed, she frightened him.
+
+'What!' he cried; 'have those two dastardly prisoners the impudence to
+mock me thus, and propose that I should wed such a loathsome creature as
+that? They shall die for it! Away with that hussy and her nurse, and the
+fellow who brought them here; cast them into the dungeon of my keep!'
+
+Now the king and his brother, who had heard in prison that their sister
+was expected, had attired themselves handsomely to receive her. But
+instead of the prison being opened and their liberty restored, as they
+had anticipated, there came the gaoler with a squad of soldiers, and
+made them descend into a black dungeon, swarming with vile creatures,
+where the water was up to their necks. Never were two people more
+astounded or more distressed. 'Alas!' they cried to each other; 'this is
+a doleful wedding feast for us! What has brought this unhappy fate upon
+us?' They did not know what in the world to think, except that it was
+desired to compass their death, and this reflection filled them with
+melancholy.
+
+Three days passed and they heard not a word of anything. At the end of
+the third day the King of the Peacocks came and hurled insults at them
+through a hole in the wall.
+
+'You called yourselves King and Prince to trap me,' he shouted to them,
+'and sought thus to make me promise to wed your sister. But you are
+nought but a couple of beggars, not worth the water you drink. You shall
+be sent for trial, and the judges will make short work of your case--the
+rope to hang you with is being plaited already!'
+
+'Not so fast, King of the Peacocks,' replied the captive monarch,
+angrily, 'or you will have cause to repent it! I am a king like
+yourself: I rule over a fair land, I have robes and crowns and treasure
+in plenty. I pledge my all to the truth of what I say. You must be
+joking to talk of hanging us--of what have we robbed you?'
+
+The King of the Peacocks hardly knew what to make of this bold and
+confident challenge. He was almost of a mind to spare their lives and
+let them take their sister away. But his Chancellor, an arrant
+flatterer, egged him on, whispering that if he did not avenge himself,
+he would be the laughing-stock of the whole world, and would be looked
+upon as a mere twopenny-halfpenny monarch. Thus influenced, he vowed he
+would not pardon them, and ordered their trial to take place.
+
+This did not take long, for it was only necessary to compare side by
+side the portrait of the true Princess Rosette with the actual person
+who had come in her place and claimed identity with her. The prisoners
+were forthwith condemned to have their heads cut off as a penalty for
+lying, in that they brought the king an ugly little peasant girl after
+promising a beautiful princess.
+
+The sentence was read with great ceremony at the prison, but the victims
+protested that they had spoken the truth, that their sister was indeed a
+princess, and that there was something at the back of all this which
+they did not understand. They asked for a respite of seven days, that
+they might have an opportunity of establishing their innocence; and
+though the King of the Peacock's wrath was such that he had great
+difficulty in granting this concession, he agreed to it at length.
+
+Something must now be told of what was happening to poor Princess
+Rosette while all these events were taking place at the Court.
+
+Great was her astonishment, and Frillikin's also, to find herself, when
+day came, in mid-ocean without boat or any means of assistance. She fell
+to weeping, and cried so long and bitterly that all the fishes were
+moved to compassion. She knew not what to do, nor what would become of
+her.
+
+'There is no doubt,' she said, 'that I have been thrown into the sea by
+order of the King of the Peacocks. He has regretted his promise to marry
+me, and to be rid of me without fuss he has had me drowned. A strange
+way for a man to behave! And I should have loved him so much, and we
+should have been so happy together!'
+
+These thoughts made her weep the more, for she could not dispel her
+fancy for him.
+
+[Illustration: '_She floated hither and thither_']
+
+For two days she floated hither and thither over the sea, soaked to the
+skin, nigh dead with cold, and so nearly benumbed that but for little
+Frillikin, who snuggled to her bosom, and kept a little warmth in her,
+she must have perished a hundred times. She was famished with hunger,
+but on seeing some oysters in their shells she took and ate as many as
+would appease her. Frillikin did the same, but only to keep himself
+alive, for he did not like them.
+
+When night fell Rosette was filled with terror. 'Bark, Frillikin,' she
+said to her dog; 'keep on barking, or the soles will come and eat us!'
+So Frillikin barked all night.
+
+[Illustration: '_A kindly old man_']
+
+When morning came the bed was not far off the shore. Hereabouts there
+lived, all alone, a kindly old man. His home was a little hut where no
+one ever came, and as he had no desire for worldly goods he was very
+poor. He was astonished when he heard the barking of Frillikin, for no
+dogs ever came that way; and supposing that some travellers must have
+missed their road, he went out with the good-natured intention of
+putting them right. Suddenly he saw the princess and Frillikin floating
+out at sea. The princess caught sight of him, and stretching out her
+arms to him, cried:
+
+'Save me, kind old man, or I shall perish; two whole days have I been
+floating thus.'
+
+He was filled with pity when he heard her speak thus dolefully, and went
+to his house to fetch a big crook. He waded out till the water was up to
+his neck, and after being nearly drowned two or three times he
+succeeded in grappling the bed and drawing it to the shore.
+
+Rosette and Frillikin were delighted to find themselves once more on
+land. Rosette thanked the good man warmly. She accepted the offer of his
+cloak, and having wrapped herself in it walked barefoot to his hut.
+There he lit a little fire of dry straw, and took from a chest his dead
+wife's best dress, with a pair of stockings and shoes, which the
+princess put on. Clad thus in peasant's attire, with Frillikin
+gambolling round her to amuse her, she looked as beautiful as ever.
+
+The old man saw plainly that Rosette was a great lady, for the coverlets
+of her bed were of gold and silver, and her mattress of satin. He begged
+her to tell him her story, promising not to repeat a word if she so
+desired. She related everything from beginning to end--not without
+tears, for she still believed that the King of the Peacocks had meant
+her to be drowned.
+
+'What are we to do, my child?' said the old man. 'A great lady like you
+is accustomed to live on dainties, and I have only black bread and
+radishes--very poor fare for you. But I will go, if you will let me, and
+tell the King of the Peacocks that you are here. There is not the least
+doubt he will marry you, once he has seen you.'
+
+'He is a bad man,' said Rosette; 'he wanted me to die. If only you can
+supply me with a small basket to fasten on my dog's neck, it will be
+exceedingly bad luck if he does not bring us back something to eat.'
+
+The old man handed a basket to the princess, and she hung it round
+Frillikin's neck with these words: 'Find the best stew-pot in the town,
+and bring me back whatever is inside it.' Off went Frillikin to the
+town, and as he could think of no better stew-pot than the king's, he
+made his way into the royal kitchen. Having found the stew-pot, he
+cleverly extricated its contents and returned to the house.
+
+'Now go back to the larder,' said Rosette, 'and bring the best that you
+can find there.'
+
+Away went Frillikin to the larder and took some white bread, some choice
+wine, and an assortment of fruit and sweets. In fact, he took as much as
+he could carry.
+
+When the King of the Peacocks should have dined there was nothing in the
+stew-pot and nothing in the larder. Everybody gazed blankly at everybody
+else, and the king flew into a terrible rage. 'Oh, very good,' said he;
+'it seems I am to have no dinner! Well, put the spits to the fire, and
+see to it that some good roast joints are ready for me this evening!'
+
+When evening came the princess said to Frillikin: 'Find the best kitchen
+in the town and bring me a nice roast joint.' Off went Frillikin to
+carry out this order from his mistress. Thinking there could be no
+better kitchen than the king's, he slipped in quietly when the cooks'
+backs were turned, and took off the spit a roast joint, which looked so
+good that the mere sight of it gave one an appetite. His basket was full
+when he brought it back to the princess, but she sent him off again to
+the larder, and from there he carried away all the king's sweetmeats and
+dessert.
+
+The king was exceedingly hungry, having had no dinner, and ordered
+supper betimes. But there was nothing to eat, and he went to bed in a
+frightful temper. Next day at dinner and supper it was just the same.
+For three days the king had nothing to eat or drink, for every time he
+sat down at table it was found that everything had been stolen.
+
+The Chancellor, being very much afraid that the king would die, went and
+hid in a corner of the kitchen, whence he could keep the stew-pot on the
+fire constantly in view. To his astonishment he saw a little green dog,
+with only one ear, creep in stealthily, take the lid off the pot, and
+transfer the meat to his basket. He followed it in order to find out
+where it went, and saw it leave the town. Still pursuing, he came to the
+house of the good old man. He went immediately to the king and told him
+that it was to a poor peasant's house that every morning and evening his
+dinner and supper vanished.
+
+The king was mightily astonished, and ordered investigations to be made.
+The Chancellor, to curry favour, volunteered to go himself, and took
+with him a posse of archers. They found the old man at dinner with the
+princess, and the pair of them eating the king's provisions. They seized
+and bound them with strong ropes, not forgetting to deal in like manner
+with Frillikin.
+
+'To-morrow,' said the king, when he was told that the prisoners had
+arrived, 'the seven days' grace expires which I granted to those
+miscreants who insulted me. They shall go to execution with the stealers
+of my dinner.'
+
+When the King of the Peacocks entered the court of justice the old man
+flung himself on his knees, and declared that he would narrate all that
+had happened. As he told his story the king eyed the beautiful princess,
+and was touched by her weeping. When presently the good man declared
+that her name was the Princess Rosette, and that she had been thrown
+into the sea, he bounded three times into the air, despite the weak
+state in which he was after going so long without food, and ran to
+embrace her. As he undid the cords which bound her he cried out that he
+loved her with all his heart.
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+A guard had been sent for the princes, who approached just then. They
+came sadly with bowed heads, for they believed the hour of their
+execution had come. The nurse and her daughter were brought in at the
+same moment. Recognition was instant on all sides. Rosette flung herself
+into her brothers' arms, while the nurse and her daughter, with the
+boatman, fell on their knees and prayed for clemency. So joyous was the
+occasion that the king and the princess pardoned them. The good old man
+was handsomely rewarded, and given quarters at the palace for the rest
+of his life.
+
+Finally, the King of the Peacocks made all amends in his power to the
+royal brothers, expressing his deep regret at having ill-treated them.
+The nurse delivered up to Rosette her beautiful dresses and the bushel
+of golden crowns, and the wedding festivities lasted for fifteen days.
+Every one was happy, not excepting Frillikin, who ate nothing but
+partridge wings for the rest of his life.
+
+[Illustration: Decoration]
+
+
+                        THE END
+
+
+     Edinburgh: Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE LTD.
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.
+
+Other than the corrections listed below, printer's inconsistencies in
+spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, and ligature usage have been
+retained.
+
+The following misprints have been corrected:
+
+  changed "book-case" into bookcase page 127
+  added ' before I am sure,' page 120
+  added ' after there are no flies here, page 145
+  added ' after possibly carry out. page 145
+
+Illustrations have been moved from the middle of a paragraph to the
+closest paragraph break.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old-Time Stories, by Charles Perrault
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD-TIME STORIES ***
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