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。