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206 and dress yourself in them." Joliette, who was very obedient, threw off, immediately, the greasy handkerchief from her head, and shaking it slightly, she was covered entirely by her hair, which was as fair as light, and as fine as golden thread; it fell in ringlets down to the ground: then, taking in her delicate hands some water from a fountain, which was in the poultry-yard, she washed her face, which became as clear as oriental pearl. Roses seemed to be blooming upon her cheeks and lips; her breath smelt of garden and wild thyme; her form was as strait as a rush. In winter time they might have taken her skin for the snow, and in summer for the lily.

When she was dressed in her diamonds and fine clothes, the fairy considered her a miracle; she said to her, "Who do you think you are, my dear Joliette, now you are so bravely dressed?" She replied, "Truly, it seems to me that I am the daughter of a great king." "Should you be glad of it?" said the Fairy. "Yes, my good mother," replied Joliette, curtseying to her; "I should be very glad." "Well," said the Fairy, "then be content: I will tell you more to-morrow." She quickly returned to her splendid castle, where the Queen was busy spinning silk; the little Mouse cried out to her, "Will your Majesty bet your distaff and spindle that I do not bring you the best news you have ever had." "Alas!" replied the Queen, "since the death of King Joyeux, and the loss of my Joliette, I would not give a pin for all the news in the world." "There, there! do not grieve yourself any more," said the Fairy, "the Princess is wonderfully well; I have just seen her; she is so beautiful, so very beautiful, that it only depends upon herself to be a queen." She related everything from beginning to end, and the Queen cried with joy to know her daughter was so beautiful, and with grief that she had been a turkey-keeper.

"When we were great sovereigns in our own kingdom," said she, "and lived in such splendour, the poor dear departed and myself never thought our child would be a turkey-keeper!" "It is the cruel Cancaline," added the Fairy, "who, knowing how I love you, to spite me, has put her in this situation; but she shall not be in it any longer, or I will burn my books." "I will not agree," said the Queen, "to her marrying the son of the wicked King. Let us go