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upon a time there was a great Queen, who, on giving birth to twin daughters, invited twelve fairies, residing in her neighbourhood, to come and see them, and endow them, as was the custom in those days,—and a very convenient custom too, for the power of the fairies generally made up the deficiencies of nature, though it certainly did sometimes spoil what nature had done her best to make perfect.

When the fairies had all assembled in the banquet chamber, a magnificent collation was served up to them. They were just seating themselves at the table, when Magotine entered the apartment. She was the sister of Carabosse, and no less malicious. The Queen shuddered at the sight of her, fearing some disaster, as she had not invited her to the entertainment; but, carefully concealing her uneasiness, she placed, herself, an arm-chair for the Fairy, which was covered with green velvet embroidered with sapphires. As Magotine was the eldest of the fairies, all the rest made way for her to pass, and whispered to each other, "Let us hasten, sister, to endow the little Princesses, so that we may be beforehand with Magotine."

When the arm-chair was placed for her, she rudely said she would not have it, and that she was big enough to eat standing. But she made a mistake, for the table being rather a high one, she was not tall enough even to see over it; and this annoyance increased her ill-humour. "Madam," said the Queen, "I beg you will take your seat at the table." "If you had wished me to do so," replied the Fairy, "you would have sent an invitation to me, as you did to the others; but you would only have handsome persons at your court, with fine figures and fine dresses, like my sisters here. As for me