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Rh longer offended by such a disagreeable figure, and grumbling three or four times she made Mirlifiche understand that she was obliged to his master for his esteem, but that she had not yet determined whether she should marry or not.

Meantime the Queen had resolved not to draw on herself the anger of the monkeys, and not thinking it necessary to stand on much ceremony in sending Babiole where she chose her to go, prepared everything for her departure. At this news despair took complete possession of poor Babiole's heart; the contempt of the Prince on one hand, the indifference of the Queen on the other, and more than all, such a husband, made her resolve to fly. It was not a very difficult matter; since she had spoken they no longer tied her up; she went out and came in and entered her room as often by the window as by the door. She hurried, therefore, away, jumping from tree to tree, from branch to branch, till she came to the banks of a river. The excess of her despair prevented her from comprehending the peril she should incur by attempting to swim across, and without pausing even to look at it, she flung herself in, and immediately went to the bottom; but as she did not lose her senses, she perceived a magnificent grotto, ornamented with shells. She entered it quickly, and was received by a very old man, whose long white beard descended to his waist: he was reclining on a couch of reeds and flags, and was crowned with poppies and wild lilies, and was leaning against a rock, out of which flowed several fountains which fed the river. "Ah! what brings thee here, little Babiole?" said he, holding out his hand to her. "My Lord," she replied, "I am an unfortunate ape! I am flying from a horrible monkey, whom they want me to marry." "I know more of thy history than thou thinkest," added the wise old man; "it is true thou dost abhor Magot, but it is no less true that thou lovest a young Prince, who treats thee with indifference." "Ah, Sir," cried Babiole, sighing, "do not speak of it; the thought of him augments all my woes." "He will not always be a rebel to love," continued the guest of the fishes; "I know he is reserved for the most beautiful princess in the world." "Unfortunate that I am," continued Babiole, "he then can never be mine." The good man smiled, and said to her, "Do not distress thyself, my good Babiole, time is a great master; only take care not to lose