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108 |
THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK. |
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will so humbly that most of them were touched and promised that they would do his son no harm. But there happened to be among them a fairy from a far country about whom they knew nothing, though her name had been written on the first page of the list. This fairy was annoyed that after having taken the trouble to come so quickly there had been no one to receive her or to help her to alight from the great ostrich on which she had traveled from her distant home, and now she began to mutter to herself in the most alarming way.
"Oh! prate away," said she, "your son will never be anything to boast of. Say what you will, he will be nothing but a manikin-----"
Xo doubt she would have gone on longer in this strain, and given the unhappy little prince half a dozen undesirable gifts, if it had not been for the good fairy Genesta, who held the kingdom under her special protection, and who luckily hurried in just in time to prevent further mischief. When she had by compliments and entreaties pacified the unknown fairy and persuaded her to say no more, she gave the king a hint that now was the time to distribute the presents, after which ceremony they all took their departure, excepting the fairy Genesta, who then went to see the queen and said to her:
"A nice mess you seem to have made of this business, madam. Why did you not condescend to consult me? But foolish people like you always think they can do without help or advice, and I observe that in spite of all my goodness to you, you had not even the civility to invite |
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me! |
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'Ah! dear madam," cried the king, throwing himself at her feet; "did I ever have time to get as far as vcwir name? See where I put in this mark when I abandoned the hopeless undertaking which I had but just begun!"
"There! there!" said the fairy, "I am not offended. I don't allow myself to be put out by trifles like that with people I really am fond of. But now about your son. I have saved him from a great many disagreeable things, but you must let me take him away and take care of him, and you will not see him again until he is all covered with fur!"
_ At these mysterious words the king and queen burst into tears, for they lived in such a hot climate themselves |
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