Whentheyhaddividedthebuffalo'sflesh,andeachwomanhadthefamilyportioninherbasket,thestrangerwifegotupandsaid:
'Letmehavethehead。'
'Youcouldnevercarryanythingsoheavy,'answeredthemen,'andnowyouareillbesides。'
'YoudonotknowhowstrongIam,'answeredshe。Andatlasttheygaveither。
Shedidnotwalktothevillagewiththeothers,butlingeredbehind,and,insteadofenteringherhut,sheslippedintothelittleshedwherethepotsforcookingandstoringmaizewerekept。Thenshelaiddownthebuffalo'sheadandsatbesideit。Herhusbandcametoseekher,andbeggedhertoleavetheshedandgotobed,asshemustbetiredout;butthegirlwouldnotstir,neitherwouldsheattendtothewordsofhermother—in—law。
'Iwishyouwouldleavemealone！'sheansweredcrossly。'Itisimpossibletosleepifsomebodyisalwayscomingin。'Andsheturnedherbackonthem,andwouldnoteveneatthefoodtheyhadbrought。Sotheywentaway,andtheyoungmansoonstretchedhimselfoutonhismat;buthiswife'soddconductmadehimanxious,andhelaywakeallnight,listening。
Whenallwasstillthegirlmadeafireandboiledsomewaterinapot。
Assoonasitwasquitehotsheshookinthemedicinethatshehadbroughtfromhome,andthen,takingthebuffalo'shead,shemadeincisionswithherlittleknifebehindtheear,andclosetothetemplewheretheshothadstruckhim。Nextsheappliedthehorntothespotandblewwithallherforcetill,atlength,thebloodbegantomove。
Afterthatshespreadsomeofthedeerfatoutofthecalabashoverthewound,whichsheheldinthesteamofthehotwater。Lastofall,shesanginalowvoiceadirgeovertheRoverofthePlain。
Asshechantedthefinalwordstheheadmoved,andthelimbscameback。
Thebuffalobegantofeelaliveagainandshookhishorns,andstoodupandstretchedhimself。Unluckilyitwasjustatthismomentthatthehusbandsaidtohimself:
'Iwonderifsheiscryingstill,andwhatisthematterwithher！
PerhapsIhadbettergoandsee。'Andhegotupand,callingherbyname,wentouttotheshed。
'Goaway！Idon'twantyou！'shecriedangrily。Butitwastoolate。
Thebuffalohadfallentotheground,dead,andwiththewoundinhisheadasbefore。
Theyoungmanwho,unlikemostofhistribe,wasafraidofhiswife,returnedtohisbedwithouthavingseenanything,butwonderingverymuchwhatshecouldbedoingallthistime。Afterwaitingafewminutes,shebeganhertaskoveragain,andattheendthebuffalostoodonhisfeetasbefore。Butjustasthegirlwasrejoicingthatherworkwascompleted,incamethehusbandoncemoretoseewhathiswifewasdoing;andthistimehesathimselfdowninthehut,andsaidthathewishedtowatchwhateverwasgoingon。Thenthegirltookupthepitcherandallherotherthingsandlefttheshed,tryingforthethirdtimetobringthebuffalobacktolife。
Shewastoolate;thedawnwasalreadybreaking,andtheheadfelltotheground,deadandcorruptasitwasbefore。
Thegirlenteredthehut,whereherhusbandandhismotherweregettingreadytogoout。
'Iwanttogodowntothelake,andbathe,'saidshe。
'Butyoucouldneverwalksofar,'answeredthey。'Youaresotired,asitis,thatyoucanhardlystand！'
However,inspiteoftheirwarnings,thegirlleftthehutinthedirectionofthelake。Verysoonshecamebackweeping,andsobbedout:
'Imetsomeoneinthevillagewholivesinmycountry,andhetoldmethatmymotherisvery,veryill,andifIdonotgotoheratonceshewillbedeadbeforeIarrive。IwillreturnassoonasIcan,andnowfarewell。'Andshesetforthinthedirectionofthemountains。Butthisstorywasnottrue;sheknewnothingabouthermother,onlyshewantedanexcusetogohomeandtellherfamilythattheirprophecieshadcometrue,andthatthebuffalowasdead。
Balancingherbasketonherhead,shewalkedalong,anddirectlyshehadleftthevillagebehindhershebrokeoutintothesongoftheRoverofthePlain,andatlast,attheendoftheday,shecametothegroupofhutswhereherparentslived。Herfriendsallrantomeether,and,weeping,shetoldthemthatthebuffalowasdead。
Thissadnewsspreadlikelightningthroughthecountry,andthepeopleflockedfromfarandneartobewailthelossofthebeastwhohadbeentheirpride。
'Ifyouhadonlylistenedtous,'theycried,'hewouldbealivenow。
Butyourefusedallthelittlegirlsweofferedyou,andwouldhavenothingbutthebuffalo。Andrememberwhatthemedicine—mansaid:"Ifthebuffalodiesyoudiealso！"'
Sotheybewailedtheirfate,onetotheother,andforawhiletheydidnotperceivethatthegirl'shusbandwassittingintheirmidst,leaninghisgunagainstatree。Thenoneman,turning,beheldhim,andbowedmockingly。
'Hail,murderer！hail！youhaveslainusall！'
Theyoungmanstared,notknowingwhathemeant,andanswered,wonderingly:
'Ishotabuffalo;isthatwhyyoucallmeamurderer？'
'Abuffalo——yes;buttheservantofyourwife！Itwashewhocarriedthewoodanddrewthewater。Didyounotknowit？'
'No;Ididnotknowit,'repliedthehusbandinsurprise。'Whydidnoonetellme？OfcourseIshouldnothaveshothim！'
'Well,heisdead,'answeredthey,'andwemustdietoo。'
Atthisthegirltookacupinwhichsomepoisonousherbshadbeencrushed,andholdingitinherhands,shewailed:'Omyfather,RoverofthePlain！'Thendrinkingadeepdraughtfromit,fellbackdead。
Onebyoneherparents,herbrothersandhersisters,drankalsoanddied,singingadirgetothememoryofthebuffalo。
Thegirl'shusbandlookedonwithhorror;andreturnedsadlyhomeacrossthemountains,and,enteringhishut,threwhimselfontheground。Atfirsthewastootiredtospeak;butatlengthheraisedhisheadandtoldallthestorytohisfatherandmother,whosatwatchinghim。Whenhehadfinishedtheyshooktheirheadsandsaid:
'Nowyouseethatwespokenoidlewordswhenwetoldyouthatillwouldcomeofyourmarriage！Weofferedyouagoodandhard—workingwife,andyouwouldhavenoneofher。Anditisnotonlyyourwifeyouhavelost,butyourfortunealso。Forwhowillgiveyoubackyourmoneyiftheyarealldead？'
'Itistrue,Omyfather,'answeredtheyoungman。Butinhishearthethoughtmoreofthelossofhiswifethanofthemoneyhehadgivenforher。
[FromL'EtudeEthnographiquesurlesBaronga,parHenriJunod。]
TheWhiteDoeOnceuponatimetherelivedakingandqueenwholovedeachotherdearly,andwouldhavebeenperfectlyhappyiftheyhadonlyhadalittlesonordaughtertoplaywith。Theynevertalkedaboutit,andalwayspretendedthattherewasnothingintheworldtowishfor;but,sometimeswhentheylookedatotherpeople'schildren,theirfacesgrewsad,andtheircourtiersandattendantsknewthereasonwhy。
Onedaythequeenwassittingalonebythesideofawaterfallwhichsprungfromsomerocksinthelargeparkadjoiningthecastle。Shewasfeelingmorethanusuallymiserable,andhadsentawayherladiessothatnoonemightwitnesshergrief。Suddenlysheheardarustlingmovementinthepoolbelowthewaterfall,and,onglancingup,shesawalargecrabclimbingontoastonebesideher。
'Greatqueen,'saidthecrab,'Iamheretotellyouthatthedesireofyourheartwillsoonbegranted。Butfirstyoumustpermitmetoleadyoutothepalaceofthefairies,which,thoughhardby,hasneverbeenseenbymortaleyesbecauseofthethickcloudsthatsurroundit。Whenthereyouwillknowmore;thatis,ifyouwilltrustyourselftome。'
Thequeenhadneverbeforeheardananimalspeak,andwasstruckdumbwithsurprise。However,shewassoenchantedatthewordsofthecrabthatshesmiledsweetlyandheldoutherhand;itwastaken,notbythecrab,whichhadstoodthereonlyamomentbefore,butbyalittleoldwomansmartlydressedinwhiteandcrimsonwithgreenribbonsinhergreyhair。And,wonderfultosay,notadropofwaterfellfromherclothes。
Theoldwomanranlightlydownapathalongwhichthequeenhadbeenahundredtimesbefore,butitseemedsodifferentshecouldhardlybelieveitwasthesame。Insteadofhavingtopushherwaythroughnettlesandbrambles,rosesandjasminehungaboutherhead,whileunderherfeetthegroundwassweetwithviolets。Theorangetreesweresotallandthickthat,evenatmid—day,thesunwasnevertoohot,andattheendofthepathwasaglimmerofsomethingsodazzlingthatthequeenhadtoshadehereyes,andpeepatitonlybetweenherfingers。
'Whatcanitbe？'sheasked,turningtoherguide;whoanswered:
'Oh,thatisthefairies'palace,andherearesomeofthemcomingtomeetus。'
Asshespokethegatesswungbackandsixfairiesapproached,eachbearinginherhandaflowermadeofpreciousstones,butsolikearealonethatitwasonlybytouchingyoucouldtellthedifference。
'Madam,'theysaid,'weknownothowtothankyouforthismarkofyourconfidence,buthavethehappinesstotellyouthatinashorttimeyouwillhavealittledaughter。'
Thequeenwassoenchantedatthisnewsthatshenearlyfaintedwithjoy;butwhenshewasabletospeak,shepouredoutallhergratitudetothefairiesfortheirpromisedgift。
'Andnow,'shesaid,'Ioughtnottostayanylonger,formyhusbandwillthinkthatIhaverunaway,orthatsomeevilbeasthasdevouredme。'
Inalittlewhileithappenedjustasthefairieshadforetold,andababygirlwasborninthepalace。Ofcourseboththekingandqueenweredelighted,andthechildwascalledDesiree,whichmeans'desired,'forshehadbeen'desired'forfiveyearsbeforeherbirth。
Atfirstthequeencouldthinkofnothingbuthernewplaything,butthensherememberedthefairieswhohadsentittoher。Biddingherladiesbringhertheposyofjewelledflowerswhichhadbeengivenheratthepalace,shetookeachflowerinherhandandcalleditbyname,and,inturn,eachfairyappearedbeforeher。But,asunluckilyoftenhappens,theonetowhomsheowedthemost,thecrab—fairy,wasforgotten,andbythis,asinthecaseofotherbabiesyouhavereadabout,muchmischiefwaswrought。
However,forthemomentallwasgaietyinthepalace,andeverybodyinsiderantothewindowstowatchthefairies'carriages,fornotwowerealike。Onehadacarofebony,drawnbywhitepigeons,anotherwaslyingbackinherivorychariot,drivingtenblackcrows,whiletheresthadchosenrarewoodsormany—colouredsea—shells,withscarletandbluemacaws,long—tailedpeacocks,orgreenlove—birdsforhorses。
Thesecarriageswereonlyusedonoccasionsofstate,forwhentheywenttowarflyingdragons,fieryserpents,lionsorleopards,tooktheplaceofthebeautifulbirds。
Thefairiesenteredthequeen'schamberfollowedbylittledwarfswhocarriedtheirpresentsandlookedmuchprouderthantheirmistresses。
Onebyonetheirburdenswerespreadupontheground,andnoonehadeverseensuchlovelythings。Everythingthatababycouldpossiblywearorplaywithwasthere,andbesides,theyhadotherandmorepreciousgiftstogiveher,whichonlychildrenwhohavefairiesforgodmotherscaneverhopetopossess。
Theywereallgatheredroundtheheapofpinkcushionsonwhichthebabylayasleep,whenashadowseemedtofallbetweenthemandthesun,whileacoldwindblewthroughtheroom。Everybodylookedup,andtherewasthecrab—fairy,whohadgrownastallastheceilinginheranger。
'SoIamforgotten！'criedshe,inavoicesoloudthatthequeentrembledassheheardit。'Whowasitsoothedyouinyourtrouble？
Whowasitledyoutothefairies？Whowasitbroughtyoubackinsafetytoyourhomeagain？YetI——I——amoverlooked,whilethesewhohavedonenothingincomparison,arepettedandthanked。'
Thequeen,almostdumbwithterror,invaintriedtothinkofsomeexplanationorapology;buttherewasnone,andshecouldonlyconfessherfaultandimploreforgiveness。Thefairiesalsodidtheirbesttosoftenthewrathoftheirsister,andknowingthat,likemanyplainpeoplewhoarenotfairies,shewasveryvain,theyentreatedhertodrophercrab'sdisguise,andtobecomeoncemorethecharmingpersontheywereaccustomedtosee。
Forsometimetheenragedfairywouldlistentonothing;butatlengththeflatteriesbegantotakeeffect。Thecrab'sshellfellfromher,sheshrankintoherusualsize,andlostsomeofherfierceexpression。
'Well,'shesaid,'Iwillnotcausetheprincess'sdeath,asIhadmeanttodo,butatthesametimeshewillhavetobearthepunishmentofhermother'sfault,asmanyotherchildrenhavedonebeforeher。
ThesentenceIpassuponheris,thatifsheisallowedtoseeonerayofdaylightbeforeherfifteenthbirthdayshewillrueitbitterly,anditmayperhapscostherherlife。'Andwiththesewordsshevanishedbythewindowthroughwhichshecame,whilethefairiescomfortedtheweepingqueenandtookcounselhowbesttheprincessmightbekeptsafeduringherchildhood。
Attheendofhalfanhourtheyhadmadeuptheirmindswhattodo,andatthecommandofthefairies,abeautifulpalacesprangup,closetothatofthekingandqueen,butdifferentfromeverypalaceintheworldinhavingnowindows,andonlyadoorrightundertheearth。
However,oncewithin,daylightwashardlymissed,sobrilliantwerethemultitudesoftapersthatwereburningonthewalls。
Nowuptothistimetheprincess'shistoryhasbeenlikethehistoryofmanyaprincessthatyouhavereadabout;but,whentheperiodofherimprisonmentwasnearlyover,herfortunestookanotherturn。Foralmostfifteenyearsthefairieshadtakencareofher,andamusedherandtaughther,sothatwhenshecameintotheworldshemightbenowhitbehindthedaughtersofotherkingsinallthatmakesaprincesscharmingandaccomplished。Theyalllovedherdearly,butthefairyTuliplovedhermostofall;andastheprincess'sfifteenthbirthdaydrewnear,thefairybegantotremblelestsomethingterribleshouldhappen——someaccidentwhichhadnotbeenforeseen。'Donotletheroutofyoursight,'saidTuliptothequeen,'andmeanwhile,letherportraitbepaintedandcarriedtotheneighbouringCourts,asisthecustominorderthatthekingsmayseehowfarherbeautyexceedsthatofeveryotherprincess,andthattheymaydemandherinmarriagefortheirsons。'
Andsoitwasdone;andasthefairyhadprophesied,alltheyoungprincesfellinlovewiththepicture;butthelastonetowhomitwasshowncouldthinkofnothingelse,andrefusedtoletitberemovedfromhischamber,wherehespentwholedaysgazingatit。
Thekinghisfatherwasmuchsurprisedatthechangewhichhadcomeoverhisson,whogenerallypassedallhistimeinhuntingorhawking,andhisanxietywasincreasedbyaconversationheoverheardbetweentwoofhiscourtiersthattheyfearedtheprincemustbegoingoutofhismind,somoodyhadhebecome。Withoutlosingamomentthekingwenttovisithisson,andnosoonerhadheenteredtheroomthantheyoungmanflunghimselfathisfather'sfeet。
'YouhavebetrothedmealreadytoabrideIcanneverlove！'criedhe;
'butifyouwillnotconsenttobreakoffthematch,andaskforthehandoftheprincessDesiree,Ishalldieofmisery,thankfultobealivenolonger。'
Thesewordsmuchdispleasedtheking,whofeltthat,inbreakingoffthemarriagealreadyarrangedhewouldalmostcertainlybebringingonhissubjectsalongandbloodywar;so,withoutanswering,heturnedaway,hopingthatafewdaysmightbringhissontoreason。Buttheprince'sconditiongrewrapidlysomuchworsethattheking,indespair,promisedtosendanembassyatoncetoDesiree'sfather。
Thisnewscuredtheyoungmaninaninstantofallhisills;andhebegantoplanouteverydetailofdressandofhorsesandcarriageswhichwerenecessarytomakethetrainoftheenvoy,whosenamewasBecasigue,assplendidaspossible。Helongedtoformpartoftheembassyhimself,ifonlyinthedisguiseofapage;butthisthekingwouldnotallow,andsotheprincehadtocontenthimselfwithsearchingthekingdomforeverythingthatwasrareandbeautifultosendtotheprincess。Indeed,hearrived,justastheembassywasstarting,withhisportrait,whichhadbeenpaintedinsecretbythecourtpainter。
Thekingandqueenwishedfornothingbetterthanthattheirdaughtermarryintosuchagreatandpowerfulfamily,andreceivedtheambassadorwitheverysignofwelcome。TheyevenwishedhimtoseetheprincessDesiree,butthiswaspreventedbythefairyTulip,whofearedsomeillmightcomeofit。
'Andbesureyoutellhim,'addedshe,'thatthemarriagecannotbecelebratedtillsheisfifteenyearsold,orelsesometerriblemisfortunewillhappentothechild。'
SowhenBecasigue,surroundbyhistrain,madeaformalrequestthattheprincessDesireemightbegiveninmarriagetohismaster'sson,thekingrepliedthathewasmuchhonoured,andwouldgladlygivehisconsent;butthatnoonecouldevenseetheprincesstillherfifteenthbirthday,asthespelllaiduponherinhercradlebyaspitefulfairy,wouldnotceasetoworktillthatwaspast。Theambassadorwasgreatlysurprisedanddisappointed,butheknewtoomuchaboutfairiestoventuretodisobeythem,thereforehehadtocontenthimselfwithpresentingtheprince'sportraittothequeen,wholostnotimeincarryingittotheprincess。Asthegirltookitinherhandsitsuddenlyspoke,asithadbeentaughttodo,andutteredacomplimentofthemostdelicateandcharmingsort,whichmadetheprincessflushwithpleasure。
'Howwouldyouliketohaveahusbandlikethat？'askedthequeen,laughing。
'AsifIknewanythingabouthusbands！'repliedDesiree,whohadlongagoguessedthebusinessoftheambassador。
'Well,hewillbeyourhusbandinthreemonths,'answeredthequeen,orderingtheprince'spresentstobebroughtin。Theprincesswasverypleasedwiththem,andadmiredthemgreatly,butthequeennoticedthatallthewhilehereyesconstantlystrayedfromthesoftestsilksandmostbrilliantjewelstotheportraitoftheprince。
Theambassador,findingthattherewasnohopeofhisbeingallowedtoseetheprincess,tookhisleave,andreturnedtohisowncourt;buthereanewdifficultyappeared。Theprince,thoughtransportedwithjoyatthethoughtthatDesireewasindeedtobehisbride,wasbitterlydisappointedthatshehadnotbeenallowedtoreturnwithBecasigue,ashehadfoolishlyexpected;andneverhavingbeentaughttodenyhimselfanythingortocontrolhisfeelings,hefellasillashehaddonebefore。Hewouldeatnothingnortakepleasureinanything,butlayalldayonaheapofcushions,gazingatthepictureoftheprincess。
'IfIhavetowaitthreemonthsbeforeIcanmarrytheprincessIshalldie！'wasallthisspoiltboywouldsay;andatlengththeking,indespair,resolvedtosendafreshembassytoDesiree'sfathertoimplorehimtopermitthemarriagetobecelebratedatonce。'Iwouldhavepresentedmyprayerinperson,headdedinhisletter,'butmygreatageandinfirmitiesdonotsuffermetotravel;howevermyenvoyhasorderstoagreetoanyarrangementthatyoumaypropose。'
OnhisarrivalatthepalaceBecasiguepleadedhisyoungmaster'scauseasferventlyasthekinghisfathercouldhavedone,andentreatedthattheprincessmightbeconsultedinthematter。Thequeenhastenedtothemarbletower,andtoldherdaughterofthesadstateoftheprince。
Desireesankdownfaintingatthenews,butsooncametoherselfagain,andsetaboutinventingaplanwhichwouldenablehertogototheprincewithoutriskingthedoompronouncedoverherbythewickedfairy。
'Isee！'sheexclaimedjoyfullyatlast。'Letacarriagebebuiltthroughwhichnolightcancome,andletitbebroughtintomyroom。I
willthengetintoit,andwecantravelswiftlyduringthenightandarrivebeforedawnatthepalaceoftheprince。Oncethere,Icanremaininsomeundergroundchamber,wherenolightcancome。'
'Ah,howcleveryouare,'criedthequeen,claspingherinherarms。
Andshehurriedawaytotelltheking。
'Whatawifeourprincewillhave！'saidBecasiguebowinglow;'butI
musthastenbackwiththetidings,andtopreparetheundergroundchamberfortheprincess。'Andsohetookhisleave。
Inafewdaysthecarriagecommandedbytheprincesswasready。Itwasofgreenvelvet,scatteredoverwithlargegoldenthistles,andlinedinsidewithsilverbrocadeembroideredwithpinkroses。Ithadnowindows,ofcourse;butthefairyTulip,whosecounselhadbeenasked,hadmanagedtolightitupwithasoftglowthatcamenooneknewwhither。
Itwascarriedstraightupintothegreathallofthetower,andtheprincesssteppedintoit,followedbyherfaithfulmaidofhonour,Eglantine,andbyherladyinwaitingCerisette,whoalsohadfalleninlovewiththeprince'sportraitandwasbitterlyjealousofhermistress。ThefourthplaceinthecarriagewasfilledbyCerisette'smother,whohadbeensentbythequeentolookafterthethreeyoungpeople。
NowtheFairyoftheFountainwasthegodmotheroftheprincessNera,towhomtheprincehadbeenbetrothedbeforethepictureofDesireehadmadehimfaithless。Shewasveryangryattheslightputuponhergodchild,andfromthatmomentkeptcarefulwatchontheprincess。Inthisjourneyshesawherchance,anditwasshewho,invisible,satbyCerisette,andputbadthoughtsintothemindsofbothherandhermother。
Thewaytothecitywheretheprincelivedranforthemostpartthroughathickforest,andeverynightwhentherewasnomoon,andnotasinglestarcouldbeseenthroughthetrees,theguardswhotravelledwiththeprincessopenedthecarriagetogiveitanairing。Thiswentonforseveraldays,tillonlytwelvehoursjourneylaybetweenthemandthepalace。TheCerisettepersuadedhermothertocutagreatholeinthesideofthecarriagewithasharpknifewhichsheherselfhadbroughtforthepurpose。Intheforestthedarknesswassointensethatnooneperceivedwhatshehaddone,butwhentheyleftthelasttreesbehindthem,andemergedintotheopencountry,thesunwasup,andforthefirsttimesinceherbabyhood,Desireefoundherselfinthelightofday。
Shelookedupinsurpriseatthedazzlingbrilliancethatstreamedthroughthehole;thengaveasighwhichseemedtocomefromherheart。
Thecarriagedoorswungback,asifbymagic,andawhitedoesprangout,andinamomentwaslosttosightintheforest。But,quickasshewas,Eglantine,hermaidofhonour,hadtimetoseewhereshewent,andjumpedfromthecarriageinpursuitofher,followedatadistancebytheguards。
Cerisetteandhermotherlookedateachotherinsurpriseandjoy。
Theycouldhardlybelieveintheirgoodfortune,foreverythinghadhappenedexactlyastheywished。Thefirstthingtobedonewastoconcealtheholewhichhadbeencut,andwhenthiswasmanaged（withthehelpoftheangryfairy,thoughtheydidnotknowit）,Cerisettehastenedtotakeoffherownclothes,andputonthoseoftheprincess,placingthecrownofdiamondsonherhead。Shefoundthisheavierthansheexpected;butthen,shehadneverbeenaccustomedtowearcrowns,whichmakesallthedifference。
Atthegatesofthecitythecarriagewasstoppedbyaguardofhonoursentbythekingasanescorttohisson'sbride。ThoughCerisetteandhermothercouldofcourseseenothingofwhatwasgoingonoutside,theyheardplainlytheshoutsofwelcomefromthecrowdsalongthestreets。
ThecarriagestoppedatlengthinthevasthallwhichBecasiguehadpreparedforthereceptionoftheprincess。Thegrandchamberlainandthelordhighstewardwereawaitingher,andwhenthefalsebridesteppedintothebrilliantlylightedroom,theybowedlow,andsaidtheyhadorderstoinformhishighnessthemomentshearrived。Theprince,whomthestrictetiquetteofthecourthadpreventedfrombeingpresentintheundergroundhall,wasburningwithimpatienceinhisownapartments。
'Soshehadcome！'criedhe,throwingdownthebowhehadbeenpretendingtomend。'Well,wasInotright？Isshenotamiracleofbeautyandgrace？Andhassheherequalinthewholeworld？'Theministerslookedateachother,andmadenoreply;tillatlengththechamberlain,whowasthebolderofthetwo,observed:
'Mylord,astoherbeauty,youcanjudgeofthatforyourself。Nodoubtitisasgreatasyousay;butatpresentitseemstohavesuffered,asisnatural,fromthefatiguesofthejourney。'
Thiswascertainlynotwhattheprincehadexpectedtohear。Couldtheportraithaveflatteredher？Hehadknownofsuchthingsbefore,andacoldshiverranthroughhim;butwithanefforthekeptsilentfromfurtherquestioning,andonlysaid:
'Hasthekingbeentoldthattheprincessisinthepalace？'
'Yes,highness;andhehasprobablyalreadyjoinedher。'
'ThenIwillgotoo,'saidtheprince。
Weakashewasfromhislongillness,theprincedescendedthestaircase,supportedbytheministers,andenteredtheroomjustintimetohearhisfather'sloudcryofastonishmentanddisgustatthesightofCerisette。
'Therewasbeentreacheryatwork,'heexclaimed,whiletheprinceleant,dumbwithhorror,againstthedoorpost。Buttheladyinwaiting,whohadbeenpreparedforsomethingofthesort,advanced,holdinginherhandtheletterswhichthekingandqueenhadentrustedtoher。
'ThisistheprincessDesiree,'saidshe,pretendingtohaveheardnothing,'andIhavethehonourtopresenttoyoutheselettersfrommyliegelordandlady,togetherwiththecasketcontainingtheprincess'
jewels。'
Thekingdidnotmoveoranswerher;sotheprince,leaningonthearmofBecasigue,approachedalittleclosertothefalseprincess,hopingagainsthopethathiseyeshaddeceivedhim。Butthelongerhelookedthemoreheagreedwithhisfatherthattherewastreasonsomewhere,forinnosinglerespectdidtheportraitresemblethewomanbeforehim。Cerisettewassotallthatthedressoftheprincessdidnotreachherankles,andsothinthatherbonesshowedthroughthestuff。
Besidesthathernosewashooked,andherteethblackandugly。
Inhisturn,theprincestoodrootedtothespot。Atlasthespoke,andhiswordswereaddressedtohisfather,andnottothebridewhohadcomesofartomarryhim。
'Wehavebeendeceived,'hesaid,'anditwillcostmemylife。'AndheleanedsoheavilyontheenvoythatBecasiguefearedhewasgoingtofaint,andhastilylaidhimonthefloor。Forsomeminutesnoonecouldattendtoanybodybuttheprince;butassoonasherevivedtheladyinwaitingmadeherselfheard。
'Oh,mylovelyprincess,whydidweeverleavehome？'criedshe。'Butthekingyourfatherwillavengetheinsultsthathavebeenheapedonyouwhenwetellhimhowyouhavebeentreated。'
'Iwilltellhimmyself,'repliedthekinginwrath;'hepromisedmeawonderofbeauty,hehassentmeaskeleton！Iamnotsurprisedthathehaskeptherforfifteenyearshiddenawayfromtheeyesoftheworld。Takethembothaway,'hecontinued,turningtohisguards,'andlodgetheminthestateprison。ThereissomethingmoreIhavetolearnofthismatter。'
Hisorderswereobeyed,andtheprince,loudlybewailinghissadfate,wasledbacktobed,whereformanydayshelayinahighfever。Atlengthheslowlybegantogainstrength,buthissorrowwasstillsogreatthathecouldnotbearthesightofastrangeface,andshudderedatthenotionoftakinghisproperpartinthecourtceremonies。
Unknowntotheking,ortoanybodybutBecasigue,heplannedthat,assoonashewasable,hewouldmakehisescapeandpasstherestofhislifealoneinsomesolitaryplace。Itwassomeweeksbeforehehadregainedhishealthsufficientlytocarryouthisdesign;butfinally,onebeautifulstarlightnight,thetwofriendsstoleaway,andwhenthekingwokenextmorninghefoundaletterlyingbyhisbed,sayingthathissonhadgone,heknewnotwhither。Heweptbittertearsatthenews,forhelovedtheprincedearly;buthefeltthatperhapstheyoungmanhaddonewisely,andhetrustedtotimeandBecasigue'sinfluencetobringthewandererhome。
Andwhilethesethingswerehappening,whathadbecomeofthewhitedoe？Thoughwhenshesprangfromthecarriageshewasawarethatsomeunkindfatehadchangedherintoananimal,yet,tillshesawherselfinastream,shehadnoideawhatitwas。
'Isitreally,I,Desiree？'shesaidtoherself,weeping。'Whatwickedfairycanhavetreatedmeso;andshallInever,nevertakemyownshapeagain？Myonlycomfortthat,inthisgreatforest,fulloflionsandserpents,mylifewillbeashortone。'
NowthefairyTulipwasasmuchgrievedatthesadfateoftheprincessasDesiree'sownmothercouldhavebeenifshehadknownofit。Still,shecouldnothelpfeelingthatifthekingandqueenhadlistenedtoheradvicethegirlwouldbythistimebesafelyinthewallsofhernewhome。However,shelovedDesireetoomuchtolethersuffermorethancouldbehelped,anditwasshewhoguidedEglantinetotheplacewherethewhitedoewasstanding,croppingthegrasswhichwasherdinner。
Atthesoundoffootstepstheprettycreatureliftedherhead,andwhenshesawherfaithfulcompanionapproachingsheboundedtowardsher,andrubbedherheadonEglantine'sshoulder。Themaidofhonourwassurprised;butshewasfondofanimals,andstrokedthewhitedoetenderly,speakinggentlytoherallthewhile。Suddenlythebeautifulcreatureliftedherhead,andlookedupintoEglantine'sface,withtearsstreamingfromhereyes。Athoughtflashedthroughhermind,andquickaslightningthegirlflungherselfonherknees,andliftingtheanimal'sfeetkissedthemonebyone。'Myprincess！Omydearprincess！'criedshe;andagainthewhitedoerubbedherheadagainsther,forthoughtthespitefulfairyhadtakenawayherpowerofspeech,shehadnotdeprivedherofherreason！
Alldaylongthetworemainedtogether,andwhenEglantinegrewhungryshewasledbythewhitedoetoapartoftheforestwherepearsandpeachesgrewinabundance;but,asnightcameon,themaidofhonourwasfilledwiththeterrorsofwildbeastswhichhadbesettheprincessduringherfirstnightintheforest。
'Istherenohutorcavewecouldgointo？'askedshe。Butthedoeonlyshookherhead;andthetwosatdownandweptwithfright。
ThefairyTulip,who,inspiteofheranger,wasverysoft—hearted,wastouchedattheirdistress,andflewquicklytotheirhelp。
'Icannottakeawaythespellaltogether,'shesaid,'fortheFairyoftheFountainisstrongerthanI;butIcanshortenthetimeofyourpunishment,andamabletomakeitlesshard,forassoonasdarknessfallyoushallresumeyourownshape。'