Tothinkthatby—and—byshewouldceasetobeawhitedoe——indeed,thatshewouldatonceceasetobeoneduringthenight——wasforthepresentjoyenoughforDesiree,andsheskippedaboutonthegrassintheprettiestmanner。
'Gostraightdownthepathinfrontofyou,'continuedthefairy,smilingasshewatchedher;'gostraightdownthepathandyouwillsoonreachalittlehutwhereyouwillfindshelter。'Andwiththesewordsshevanished,leavingherhearershappierthantheyeverthoughttheycouldbeagain。
AnoldwomanwasstandingatthedoorofthehutwhenEglantinedrewnear,withthewhitedoetrottingbyherside。
'Goodevening！'shesaid;'couldyougivemeanight'slodgingformyselfandmydoe？'
'CertainlyIcan,'repliedtheoldwoman。Andsheledthemintoaroomwithtwolittlewhitebeds,socleanandcomfortablethatitmadeyousleepyeventolookatthem。
Thedoorhadhardlyclosedbehindtheoldwomanwhenthesunsankbelowthehorizon,andDesireebecameagirlagain。
'Oh,Eglantine！whatshouldIhavedoneifyouhadnotfollowedme,'
shecried。Andsheflungherselfintoherfriend'sarmsinatransportofdelight。
EarlyinthemorningEglantinewasawakenedbythesoundofsomeonescratchingatthedoor,andonopeninghereyesshesawthewhitedoestrugglingtogetout。Thelittlecreaturelookedupandintoherface,andnoddedherheadasthemaidofhonourunfastenedthelatch,butboundedawayintothewoods,andwaslosttosightinamoment。
Meanwhile,theprinceandBecasiguewerewanderingthroughthewood,tillatlasttheprincegrewsotired,thathelaydownunderatree,andtoldBecasiguethathehadbettergoinsearchoffood,andofsomeplacewheretheycouldsleep。Becasiguehadnotgoneveryfar,whenaturnofthepathbroughthimfacetofacewiththeoldwomanwhowasfeedingherdovesbeforehercottage。
'Couldyougivemesomemilkandfruit？'askedhe。'Iamveryhungrymyself,and,besides,Ihaveleftafriendbehindmewhoisstillweakfromillness。'
'CertainlyIcan,'answeredtheoldwoman。'ButcomeandsitdowninmykitchenwhileIcatchthegoatandmilkit。'
Becasiguewasgladenoughtodoashewasbid,andinafewminutestheoldwomanreturnedwithabasketbrimmingoverwithorangesandgrapes。
'Ifyourfriendhasbeenillheshouldnotpassthenightintheforest,'saidshe。'Ihaveroominmyhut——tinyenough,itistrue;
butbetterthannothing,andtothatyouarebothheartilywelcome。'
Becasiguethankedherwarmly,andasbythistimeitwasalmostsunset,hesetouttofetchtheprince。ItwaswhilehewasabsentthatEglantineandthewhitedoeenteredthehut,andhaving,ofcourse,noideathatintheverynextroomwasthemanwhosechildishimpatiencehadbeenthecauseofalltheirtroubles。
Inspiteofhisfatigue,theprincesleptbadly,anddirectlyitwaslightherose,andbiddingBecasigueremainwherehewas,ashewishedtobealone,hestrolledoutintotheforest。Hewalkedonslowly,justashisfancyledhim,till,suddenly,hecametoawideopenspace,andinthemiddlewasthewhitedoequietlyeatingherbreakfast。Sheboundedoffatthesightofaman,butnotbeforetheprince,whohadfastenedonhisbowwithoutthinking,hadletflyseveralarrows,whichthefairyTuliptookcareshoulddohernoharm。
But,quicklyassheran,shesoonfeltherstrengthfailingher,forfifteenyearsoflifeinatowerhadnottaughtherhowtoexerciseherlimbs。
Luckily,theprincewastooweaktofollowherfar,andaturnofapathbroughtherclosetothehut,whereEglantinewasawaitingher。
Pantingforbreath,sheenteredtheirroom,andflungherselfdownonthefloor。
Whenitwasdarkagain,andshewasoncemoretheprincessDesiree,shetoldEglantinewhathadbefallenher。
'IfearedtheFairyoftheFountain,andthecruelbeasts,'saidshe;
'butsomehowIneverthoughtofthedangersthatIranfrommen。Idonotknownowwhatsavedme。'
'Youmuststayquietlyheretillthetimeofyourpunishmentisover,'
answeredEglantine。Butwhenthemorningdawned,andthegirlturnedintoadoe,thelongingfortheforestcameoverher,andshesprangawayasbefore。
Assoonastheprincewasawakehehastenedtotheplacewhere,onlythedaybefore,hehadfoundthewhitedoefeeding;butofcourseshehadtakencaretogointheoppositedirection。Muchdisappointed,hetriedfirstonegreenpathandthenanother,andatlast,weariedwithwalking,hethrewhimselfdownandwentfastasleep。
Justatthismomentthewhitedoesprangoutofathicketnearby,andstartedbacktremblingwhenshebeheldherenemylyingthere。Yet,insteadofturningtofly,somethingbadehergoandlookathimunseen。Asshegazedathrillranthroughher,forshefeltthat,wornandwastedthoughhewasbyillness,itwasthefaceofherdestinedhusband。Gentlystoopingoverhimshekissedhisforehead,andathertouchheawoke。
Foraminutetheylookedateachother,andtohisamazementherecognizedthewhitedoewhichhadescapedhimthepreviousday。Butinaninstanttheanimalwasarousedtoasenseofherdanger,andshefledwithallherstrengthintothethickestpartoftheforest。Quickaslightningtheprincewasonhertrack,butthistimeitwaswithnowishtokillorevenwoundthebeautifulcreature。
'Prettydoe！prettydoe！stop！Iwon'thurtyou,'criedhe,buthiswordswerecarriedawaybythewind。
Atlengththedoecouldrunnomore,andwhentheprincereachedher,shewaslyingstretchedoutonthegrass,waitingforherdeathblow。
Butinsteadtheprincekneltatherside,andstrokedher,andbadeherfearnothing,ashewouldtakecareofher。Sohefetchedalittlewaterfromthestreaminhishornhuntingcup,then,cuttingsomebranchesfromthetrees,hetwistedthemintoalitterwhichhecoveredwithmoss,andlaidthewhitedoegentlyonit。
Foralongtimetheyremainedthus,butwhenDesireesawbythewaythatthelightstruckthetrees,thathesunmustbenearitssetting,shewasfilledwithalarmlestthedarknessshouldfall,andtheprinceshouldbeholdherinherhumanshape。
'No,hemustnotseemeforthefirsttimehere,'shethought,andinstantlybegantoplanhowtogetridofhim。Thensheopenedhermouthandlethertonguehangout,asifsheweredyingofthirst,andtheprince,assheexpected,hastenedtothestreamtogethersomemorewater。
Whenhereturned,thewhitedoewasgone。
ThatnightDesireeconfessedtoEglantinethatherpursuerwasnootherthantheprince,andthatfarfromflatteringhim,theportraithadneverdonehimjustice。
'Isitnothardtomeethiminthisshape,'weptshe,'whenwebothloveeachothersomuch？'ButEglantinecomfortedher,andremindedherthatinashorttimeallwouldbewell。
Theprincewasveryangryattheflightofthewhitedoe,forwhomhehadtakensomuchtrouble,andreturningtothecottagehepouredouthisadventuresandhiswrathtoBecasigue,whocouldnothelpsmiling。
'Sheshallnotescapemeagain,'criedtheprince。'IfIhunthereverydayforayear,Iwillhaveheratlast。'Andinthisframeofmindhewenttobed。
Whenthewhitedoeenteredtheforestnextmorning,shehadnotmadeuphermindwhethershewouldgoandmeettheprince,orwhethershewouldshunhim,andhideinthicketsofwhichheknewnothing。Shedecidedthatthelastplanwasthebest;andsoitwouldhavebeeniftheprincehadnottakentheverysamedirectioninsearchofher。
Quitebyaccidenthecaughtsightofherwhiteskinshiningthroughthebushes,andatthesameinstantsheheardatwigsnapunderhisfeet。
Inamomentshewasupandaway,buttheprince,notknowinghowelsetocaptureher,aimedanarrowatherleg,whichbroughthertotheground。
Theyoungmanfeltlikeamurdererasheranhastilyuptowherethewhitedoelay,anddidhisbesttosoothethepainshefelt,which,inreality,wasthelastpartofthepunishmentsentbytheFairyoftheFountain。Firsthebroughthersomewater,andthenhefetchedsomehealingherbs,andhavingcrushedtheminhishand,laidthemonthewound。
'Ah！whatawretchIwastohavehurtyou,'criedhe,restingherheaduponhisknees;'andnowyouwillhatemeandflyfrommeforever！'
Forsometimethedoelayquietlywhereshewas,but,asbefore,sherememberedthatthehourofhertransformationwasnear。Shestruggledtoherfeet,buttheprincewouldnothearofherwalking,andthinkingtheoldwomanmightbeabletodressherwoundbetterthanhecould,hetookherinhisarmstocarryherbacktothehut。But,smallasshewas,shemadeherselfsoheavythat,afterstaggeringafewstepsunderherweight,helaidherdown,andtiedherfasttoatreewithsomeoftheribbonsofhishat。Thisdonehewentawaytogethelp。
MeanwhileEglantinehadgrownveryuneasyatthelongabsenceofhermistress,andhadcomeouttolookforher。Justastheprincepassedoutofsighttheflutteringribbonsdancebeforehereyes,andshedescriedherbeautifulprincessboundtoatree。Withallhermightsheworkedattheknots,butnotasingleonecouldsheundo,thoughallappearedsoeasy。Shewasstillbusywiththemwhenavoicebehindhersaid:
'Pardonme,fairlady,butitisMYdoeyouaretryingtosteal！'
'Excuseme,goodknight'answeredEglantine,hardlyglancingathim,'butitisMYdoethatistieduphere！Andifyouwishforaproofofit,youcanseeifsheknowsmeornot。Touchmyheart,mylittleone,'shecontinued,droppingonherknees。Andthedoeliftedupitsfore—footandlaiditonherside。'Nowputyourarmsroundmyneck,andsigh。'Andagainthedoedidasshewasbid。
'Youareright,'saidtheprince;'butitiswithsorrowIgiveheruptoyou,forthoughIhavewoundedheryetIloveherdeeply。'
TothisEglantineanswerednothing;butcarefullyraisingupthedoe,sheledherslowlytothehut。
NowboththeprinceandBecasiguewerequiteunawarethattheoldwomanhadanyguestsbesidesthemselves,and,followingafar,weremuchsurprisedtobeholdEglantineandherchargeenterthecottage。Theylostnotimeinquestioningtheoldwoman,whorepliedthatsheknewnothingabouttheladyandherwhitedoe,whosleptnextthechamberoccupiedbytheprinceandhisfriend,butthattheywereveryquiet,andpaidherwell。Thenshewentbacktoherkitchen。
'Doyouknow,'saidBecasigue,whentheywerealone,'IamcertainthattheladywesawisthemaidofhonourtothePrincessDesiree,whomI
metatthepalace。And,asherroomisnexttothis,itwillbeeasytomakeasmallholethroughwhichIcansatisfymyselfwhetherIamrightornot。'
So,takingaknifeoutofhispocket,hebegantosawawaythewoodwork。Thegirlsheardthegratingnoise,butfancyingitwasamouse,paidnoattention,andBecasiguewasleftinpeacetopursuehiswork。Atlengththeholewaslargeenoughforhimtopeepthrough,andthesightwasonetostrikehimdumbwithamazement。Hehadguessedtruly:thetallladywasEglantineherself;buttheother——wherehadheseenher？Ah！nowheknew——itwastheladyoftheportrait！
Desiree,inaflowingdressofgreensilk,waslyingstretchedoutuponcushions,andasEglantinebentoverhertobathethewoundedleg,shebegantotalk:
'Oh！letmedie,'criedshe,'ratherthangoonleadingthislife。Youcannottellthemiseryofbeingabeastalltheday,andunabletospeaktothemanIlove,towhoseimpatienceIowemycruelfate。Yet,evenso,Icannotbringmyselftohatehim。'
Thesewords,lowthoughtheywerespoken,reachedBecasigue,whocouldhardlybelievehisears。Hestoodsilentforamoment;then,crossingtothewindowoutofwhichtheprincewasgazing,hetookhisarmandledhimacrosstheroom。AsingleglancewassufficienttoshowtheprincethatitwasindeedDesiree;andhowanotherhadcometothepalacebearinghername,atthatinstantheneitherknewnorcared。
Stealingontip—toefromtheroom,heknockedatthenextdoor,whichwasopenedbyEglantine,whothoughtitwastheoldwomanbearingtheirsupper。
Shestartedbackatthesightoftheprince,whomthistimeshealsorecognised。Buthethrustheraside,andflunghimselfatthefeetofDesiree,towhomhepouredoutallhisheart！
Dawnfoundthemstillconversing;andthesunwashighintheheavensbeforetheprincessperceivedthatsheretainedherhumanform。Ah！
howhappyshewaswhensheknewthatthedaysofherpunishmentwereover;andwithagladvoiceshetoldtheprincethetaleofherenchantment。
Sothestoryendedwellafterall;andthefairyTulip,whoturnedouttobetheoldwomanofthehut,madetheyoungcouplesuchaweddingfeastashadneverbeenseensincetheworldbegan。Andeverybodywasdelighted,exceptCerisetteandhermother,whowereputinaboatandcarriedtoasmallisland,wheretheyhadtoworkhardfortheirliving。
[ContesdesFees,parMadamed'Aulnoy。]
TheGirl—FishOnceuponatimetherelived,onthebankofastream,amanandawomanwhohadadaughter。Asshewasanonlychild,andveryprettybesides,theynevercouldmakeuptheirmindstopunishherforherfaultsortoteachhernicemanners;andasforwork——shelaughedinhermother'sfaceifsheaskedhertohelpcookthedinnerortowashtheplates。Allthegirlwoulddowastospendherdaysindancingandplayingwithherfriends;andforanyuseshewastoherparentstheymightaswellhavenodaughteratall。
However,onemorninghermotherlookedsotiredthateventheselfishgirlcouldnothelpseeingit,andaskediftherewasanythingshewasabletodo,sothathermothermightrestalittle。
Thegoodwomanlookedsosurprisedandgratefulforthisofferthatthegirlfeltratherashamed,andatthatmomentwouldhavescrubbeddownthehouseifshehadbeenrequested;buthermotheronlybeggedhertotakethefishing—netouttothebankoftheriverandmendsomeholesinit,asherfatherintendedtogofishingthatnight。
Thegirltookthenetandworkedsohardthatsoontherewasnotaholetobefound。Shefeltquitepleasedwithherself,thoughshehadhadplentytoamuseher,aseverybodywhopassedbyhadstoppedandhadachatwithher。Butbythistimethesunwashighoverhead,andshewasjustfoldinghernettocarryithomeagain,whensheheardasplashbehindher,andlookingroundshesawabigfishjumpintotheair。
Seizingthenetwithbothhands,sheflungitintothewaterwherethecircleswerespreadingonebehindtheother,and,morebyluckthanskill,drewoutthefish。
'Well,youareabeauty！'shecriedtoherself;butthefishlookeduptoherandsaid:
'Youhadbetternotkillme,for,ifyoudo,Iwillturnyouintoafishyourself！'
Thegirllaughedcontemptuously,andranstraightintohermother。
'LookwhatIhavecaught,'shesaidgaily;'butitisalmostapitytoeatit,foritcantalk,anditdeclaresthat,ifIkillit,itwillturnmeintoafishtoo。'
'Oh,putitback,putitback！'imploredthemother。'Perhapsitisskilledinmagic。AndIshoulddie,andsowouldyourfather,ifanythingshouldhappentoyou。'
'Oh,nonsense,mother;whatpowercouldacreaturelikethathaveoverme？Besides,Iamhungry,andifIdon'thavemydinnersoon,Ishallbecross。'Andoffshewenttogathersomeflowerstostickinherhair。
Aboutanhourlatertheblowingofahorntoldherthatdinnerwasready。
'Didn'tIsaythatfishwouldbedelicious？'shecried;andplungingherspoonintothedishthegirlhelpedherselftoalargepiece。Buttheinstantittouchedhermouthacoldshiverranthroughher。Herheadseemedtoflatten,andhereyestolookoddlyroundthecorners;
herlegsandherarmswerestucktohersides,andshegaspedwildlyforbreath。Withamightyboundshesprangthroughthewindowandfellintotheriver,whereshesoonfeltbetter,andwasabletoswimtothesea,whichwascloseby。
Nosoonerhadshearrivedtherethanthesightofhersadfaceattractedthenoticeofsomeoftheotherfishes,andtheypressedroundher,begginghertotellthemherstory。
'Iamnotafishatall,'saidthenew—comer,swallowingagreatdealofsaltwaterasshespoke;foryoucannotlearnhowtobeaproperfishallinamoment。'Iamnotafishatall,butagirl;atleastI
wasagirlafewminutesago,only——'Andsheduckedherheadunderthewavessothattheyshouldnotseehercrying。
'Onlyyoudidnotbelievethatthefishyoucaughthadpowertocarryoutitsthreat,'saidanoldtunny。'Well,nevermind,thathashappenedtoallofus,anditreallyisnotabadlife。Cheerupandcomewithusandseeourqueen,wholivesinapalacethatismuchmorebeautifulthananyyourqueenscanboastof。'
Thenewfishfeltalittleafraidoftakingsuchajourney;butasshewasstillmoreafraidofbeingleftalone,shewavedhertailintokenofconsent,andofftheyallset,hundredsofthemtogether。Thepeopleontherocksandintheshipsthatsawthempasssaidtoeachother:
'Lookwhatasplendidshoal！'andhadnoideathattheywerehasteningtothequeen'spalace;but,then,dwellersonlandhavesolittlenotionofwhatgoesoninthebottomofthesea！Certainlythelittlenewfishhadnone。Shehadwatchedjelly—fishandnautilusswimmingalittlewaybelowthesurface,andbeautifulcolouredsea—weedsfloatingabout;butthatwasall。Now,whensheplungeddeeperhereyesfelluponstrangethings。
Wedgesofgold,greatanchors,heapsofpearl,inestimablestones,unvaluedjewels——allscatteredinthebottomofthesea！Deadmen'sbonesweretherealso,andlongwhitecreatureswhohadneverseenthelight,fortheymostlydweltinthecleftsofrockswherethesun'srayscouldnotcome。Atfirstourlittlefishfeltasifshewereblindalso,butby—and—byshebegantomakeoutoneobjectafteranotherinthegreendimness,andbythetimeshehadswumforafewhoursallbecameclear。
'Hereweareatlast,'criedabigfish,goingdownintoadeepvalley,fortheseahasitsmountainsandvalleysjustasmuchastheland。
'Thatisthepalaceofthequeenofthefishes,andIthinkyoumustconfessthattheemperorhimselfhasnothingsofine。'
'Itisbeautifulindeed,'gaspedthelittlefish,whowasverytiredwithtryingtoswimasfastastherest,andbeautifulbeyondwordsthepalacewas。Thewallsweremadeofpalepinkcoral,wornsmoothbythewaters,androundthewindowswererowsofpearls;thegreatdoorswerestandingopen,andthewholetroopfloatedintothechamberofaudience,wherethequeen,whowashalfawomanafterall,wasseatedonathronemadeofagreenandblueshell。
'Whoareyou,andwheredoyoucomefrom？'saidshetothelittlefish,whomtheothershadpushedinfront。Andinalow,tremblingvoice,thevisitortoldherstory。
'Iwasonceagirltoo,'answeredthequeen,whenthefishhadended;
'andmyfatherwasthekingofagreatcountry。Ahusbandwasfoundforme,andonmywedding—daymymotherplacedhercrownonmyheadandtoldmethataslongasIworeitIshouldlikewisebequeen。FormanymonthsIwasashappyasagirlcouldbe,especiallywhenIhadalittlesontoplaywith。But,onemorning,whenIwaswalkinginmygardens,therecameagiantandsnatchedthecrownfrommyhead。
Holdingmefast,hetoldmethatheintendedtogivethecrowntohisdaughter,andtoenchantmyhusbandtheprince,sothatheshouldnotknowthedifferencebetweenus。Sincethenshehasfilledmyplaceandbeenqueeninmystead。Asforme,IwassomiserablethatIthrewmyselfintothesea,andmyladies,wholovedme,declaredthattheywoulddietoo;but,insteadofdying,somewizard,whopitiedmyfate,turnedusallintofishes,thoughheallowedmetokeepthefaceandbodyofawoman。Andfishedwemustremaintillsomeonebringsmebackmycrownagain！'
'Iwillbringitbackifyoutellmewhattodo！'criedthelittlefish,whowouldhavepromisedanythingthatwaslikelytocarryheruptoearthagain。Andthequeenanswered:
'Yes,Iwilltellyouwhattodo。'
Shesatsilentforamoment,andthenwenton:
'Thereisnodangerifyouwillonlyfollowmycounsel;andfirstyoumustreturntoearth,andgouptothetopofahighmountain,wherethegianthasbuilthiscastle。Youwillfindhimsittingonthestepsweepingforhisdaughter,whohasjustdiedwhiletheprincewasawayhunting。Atthelastshesentherfathermycrownbyafaithfulservant。ButIwarnyoutobecareful,forifheseesyouhemaykillyou。ThereforeIwillgiveyouthepowertochangeyourselfintoanycreaturethatmayhelpyoubest。Youhaveonlytostrikeyourforehead,andcalloutitsname。'
Thistimethejourneytolandseemedmuchshorterthanbefore,andwhenoncethefishreachedtheshoreshestruckherforeheadsharplywithhertail,andcried:
'Deer,cometome！'
Inamomentthesmall,slimybodydisappeared,andinitsplacestoodabeautifulbeastwithbranchinghornsandslenderlegs,quiveringwithlongingtobegone。Throwingbackherheadandsnuffingtheair,shebrokeintoarun,leapingeasilyovertheriversandwallsthatstoodinherway。
Ithappenedthattheking'ssonhadbeenhuntingsincedaybreak,buthadkillednothing,andwhenthedeercrossedhispathashewasrestingunderatreehedeterminedtohaveher。Heflunghimselfonhishorse,whichwentlikethewind,andastheprincehadoftenhuntedtheforestbefore,andknewalltheshortcuts,heatlastcameupwiththepantingbeast。
'Byyourfavourletmego,anddonotkillme,'saidthedeer,turningtotheprincewithtearsinhereyes,'forIhavefartorunandmuchtodo。'Andastheprince,struckdumbwithsurprise,onlylookedather,thedeerclearedthenextwallandwassoonoutofsight。
'Thatcan'treallybeadeer,'thoughttheprincetohimself,reininginhishorseandnotattemptingtofollowher。'Nodeereverhadeyeslikethat。Itmustbeanenchantedmaiden,andIwillmarryherandnoother。'So,turninghishorse'shead,herodeslowlybacktohispalace。
Thedeerreachedthegiant'scastlequiteoutofbreath,andherheartsankasshegazedatthetall,smoothwallswhichsurroundedit。Thenshepluckedupcourageandcried:
'Ant,cometome！'Andinamomentthebranchinghornsandbeautifulshapehadvanished,andatinybrownant,invisibletoallwhodidnotlookclosely,wasclimbingupthewalls。
Itwaswonderfulhowfastshewent,thatlittlecreature！Thewallmusthaveappearedmileshighincomparisonwithherownbody;yet,inlesstimethanwouldhaveseemedpossible,shewasoverthetopanddowninthecourtyardontheotherside。Hereshepausedtoconsiderwhathadbestbedonenext,andlookingabouthershesawthatoneofthewallshadatalltreegrowingbyit,andinthecornerwasawindowverynearlyonalevelwiththehighestbranchesofthetree。
'Monkey,cometome！'criedtheant;andbeforeyoucouldturnroundamonkeywasswingingherselffromthetopmostbranchesintotheroomwherethegiantlaysnoring。
'Perhapshewillbesofrightenedatthesightofmethathemaydieoffear,andIshallnevergetthecrown,'thoughtthemonkey。'Ihadbetterbecomesomethingelse。'Andshecalledsoftly:'Parrot,cometome！'
Thenapinkandgreyparrothoppeduptothegiant,whobythistimewasstretchinghimselfandgivingyawnswhichshookthecastle。Theparrotwaitedalittle,untilhewasreallyawake,andthenshesaidboldlythatshehadbeensenttotakeawaythecrown,whichwasnothisanylonger,nowhisdaughterthequeenwasdead。
Onhearingthesewordsthegiantleaptoutofbedwithanangryroar,andsprangattheparrotinordertowringherneckwithhisgreathands。Butthebirdwastooquickforhim,and,flyingbehindhisback,beggedthegianttohavepatience,asherdeathwouldbeofnousetohim。
'Thatistrue,'answeredthegiant;'butIamnotsofoolishastogiveyouthatcrownfornothing。LetmethinkwhatIwillhaveinexchange！'Andhescratchedhishugeheadforseveralminutes,forgiants'mindsalwaysmoveslowly。
'Ah,yes,thatwilldo！'exclaimedthegiantatlast,hisfacebrightening。'YoushallhavethecrownifyouwillbringmeacollarofbluestonesfromtheArchofSt。Martin,intheGreatCity。'
Nowwhentheparrothadbeenagirlshehadoftenheardofthiswonderfularchandthepreciousstonesandmarblesthathadbeenletintoit。Itsoundedasifitwouldbeaveryhardthingtogetthemawayfromthebuildingofwhichtheyformedapart,butallhadgonewellwithhersofar,andatanyrateshecouldbuttry。Soshebowedtothegiant,andmadeherwaybacktothewindowwherethegiantcouldnotseeher。Thenshecalledquickly:
'Eagle,cometome！'
Beforeshehadevenreachedthetreeshefeltherselfborneuponstrongwingsreadytocarryhertothecloudsifshewishedtogothere,andseemingamerespeckinthesky,shewassweptalongtillshebeheldtheArchofSt。Martinfarbelow,withtheraysofthesunshiningonit。Thensheswoopeddown,and,hidingherselfbehindabuttresssothatshecouldnotbedetectedfrombelow,shesetherselftodigoutthenearestbluestoneswithherbeak。Itwasevenharderworkthanshehadexpected;butatlastitwasdone,andhopearoseinherheart。Shenextdrewoutapieceofstringthatshehadfoundhangingfromatree,andsittingdowntoreststrungthestonestogether。Whenthenecklacewasfinishedshehungitroundherneck,andcalled:'Parrot,cometome！'Andalittlelaterthepinkandgreyparrotstoodbeforethegiant。
'Hereisthenecklaceyouaskedfor,'saidtheparrot。Andtheeyesofthegiantglistenedashetooktheheapofbluestonesinhishand。
Butforallthathewasnotmindedtogiveupthecrown。
'TheyarehardlyasblueasIexpected,'hegrumbled,thoughtheparrotknewaswellashedidthathewasnotspeakingthetruth;'soyoumustbringmesomethingelseinexchangeforthecrownyoucovetsomuch。
Ifyoufailitwillcostyounotonlythecrownbutyoulifealso。'
'Whatisityouwantnow？'askedtheparrot;andthegiantanswered:
'IfIgiveyoumycrownImusthaveanotherstillmorebeautiful;andthistimeyoushallbringmeacrownofstars。'
Theparrotturnedaway,andassoonasshewasoutsideshemurmured:
'Toad,cometome！'Andsureenoughatoadshewas,andoffshesetinsearchofthestarrycrown。
Shehadnotgonefarbeforeshecametoaclearpool,inwhichthestarswerereflectedsobrightlythattheylookedquiterealtotouchandhandle。Stoopingdownshefilledabagshewascarryingwiththeshiningwaterand,returningtothecastle,woveacrownoutofthereflectedstars。Thenshecriedasbefore:
'Parrot,cometome！'Andintheshapeofaparrotsheenteredthepresenceofthegiant。
'Hereisthecrownyouaskedfor,'shesaid;andthistimethegiantcouldnothelpcryingoutwithadmiration。Heknewhewasbeaten,andstillholdingthechapletofstars,heturnedtothegirl。
'Yourpowerisgreaterthanmine:takethecrown;youhavewonitfairly！'
Theparrotdidnotneedtobetoldtwice。Seizingthecrown,shesprangontothewindow,crying:'Monkey,cometome！'Andtoamonkey,theclimbdownthetreeintothecourtyarddidnottakehalfaminute。Whenshehadreachedthegroundshesaidagain:'Ant,cometome！'Andalittleantatoncebegantocrawloverthehighwall。Howgladtheantwastobeoutofthegiant'scastle,holdingfastthecrownwhichhadshrunkintoalmostnothing,assheherselfhaddone,butgrewquitebigagainwhentheantexclaimed:
'Deer,cometome！'
Surelynodeereverransoswiftlyasthatone！Onandonshewent,boundingoverriversandcrashingthroughtanglestillshereachedthesea。Hereshecriedforthelasttime:
'Fish,cometome！'And,plungingin,sheswamalongthebottomasfarasthepalace,wherethequeenandallthefishesgatheredtogetherawaitingher。
Thehourssinceshehadlefthadgoneveryslowly——astheyalwaysdotopeoplethatarewaiting——andmanyofthemhadquitegivenuphope。
'Iamtiredofstayinghere,'grumbledabeautifullittlecreature,whosecolourschangedwitheverymovementofherbody,'Iwanttoseewhatisgoingonintheupperworld。Itmustbemonthssincethatfishwentaway。'
'Itwasaverydifficulttask,andthegiantmustcertainlyhavekilledherorshewouldhavebeenbacklongago,'remarkedanother。
'Theyoungflieswillbecomingoutnow,'murmuredathird,'andtheywillallbeeatenupbytheriverfish！Itisreallytoobad！'When,suddenly,avoicewasheardfrombehind:'Look！look！whatisthatbrightthingthatismovingsoswiftlytowardsus？'Andthequeenstartedup,andstoodonhertail,soexcitedwasshe。
Asilencefellonallthecrowd,andeventhegrumblersheldtheirpeaceandgazedliketherest。Onandoncamethefish,holdingthecrowntightlyinhermouth,andtheothersmovedbacktoletherpass。
Onshewentrightuptothequeen,whobentand,takingthecrown,placeditonherownhead。Thenawonderfulthinghappened。Hertaildroppedawayor,rather,itdividedandgrewintotwolegsandapairoftheprettiestfeetintheworld,whilehermaidens,whoweregroupedaroundher,shedtheirscalesandbecamegirlsagain。Theyallturnedandlookedateachotherfirst,andnextatthelittlefishwhohadregainedherownshapeandwasmorebeautifulthananyofthem。
'Itisyouwhohavegivenusbackourlife;you,you！'theycried;andfelltoweepingfromveryjoy。
Sotheyallwentbacktoearthandthequeen'spalace,andquiteforgottheonethatlayunderthesea。Buttheyhadbeensolongawaythattheyfoundmanychanges。Theprince,thequeen'shusband,haddiedsomeyearssince,andinhisplacewasherson,whohadgrownupandwasking！Eveninhisjoyatseeinghismotheragainanairofsadnessclungtohim,andatlastthequeencouldbearitnolonger,andbeggedhimtowalkwithherinthegarden。Seatedtogetherinabowerofjessamine——whereshehadpassedlonghoursasabride——shetookherson'shandandentreatedhimtotellherthecauseofhissorrow。
'For,'saidshe,'ifIcangiveyouhappinessyoushallhaveit。'
'Itisnouse,'answeredtheprince;'nobodycanhelpme。Imustbearitalone。'
'Butatleastletmeshareyourgrief,'urgedthequeen。
'Noonecandothat,'saidhe。'IhavefalleninlovewithwhatIcannevermarry,andImustgetonasbestIcan。'
'Itmaynotbeasimpossibleasyouthink,'answeredthequeen。'Atanyrate,tellme。'
Therewassilencebetweenthemforamoment,then,turningawayhishead,theprinceansweredgently:
'Ihavefalleninlovewithabeautifuldeer！'
'Ah,ifthatisall,'exclaimedthequeenjoyfully。Andshetoldhiminbrokenwordsthat,ashehadguessed,itwasnodeerbutanenchantedmaidenwhohadwonbackthecrownandbroughtherhometoherownpeople。
'Sheishere,inmypalace,'addedthequeen。'Iwilltakeyoutoher。'
Butwhentheprincestoodbeforethegirl,whowassomuchmorebeautifulthananythinghehadeverdreamedof,helostallhiscourage,andstoodwithbentheadbeforeher。
Thenthemaidendrewnear,andhereyes,asshelookedathim,weretheeyesofthedeerthatdayintheforest。Shewhisperedsoftly:
'Byyourfavourletmego,anddonotkillme。'
Andtheprincerememberedherwords,andhisheartwasfilledwithhappiness。Andthequeen,hismother,watchedthemandsmiled。