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324 of little shoes, so pretty and so nicely embroidered, that she thought it almost a pity to wear them.

When she had re-entered her car, with her pitcher full of water, the canaries flew with her straight to the Grove of the Mountain. There never was a more agreeable spot. The myrtle and orange-trees interlaced their branches to form long covered walks and bowers, into which the sun could not penetrate. A thousand rills, from gently-flowing fountains, shed a refreshing coolness through this beautiful abode; but what was most curious, all the animals in it spoke, and gave the warmest welcome in the world to the little canaries. "We thought you had deserted us," said they. "The term of our penance is not yet completed," replied the canaries; "but here is a Queen whom the Fairy Protectrice has ordered us to bring to you. Take all the pains you can to amuse her." She was immediately surrounded by all sorts of animals, who paid her their best compliments. "You shall be our Queen," said they to her: "you shall find no attention or respect wanting on our parts." "Where am I?" she exclaimed. "By what supernatural power are you enabled to speak to me?" One of the little canary birds, who had remained beside her, whispered in her ear, "You must know, Madam, that several fairies being on their travels, were distressed to see persons fall into bad habits. They at first imagined it would be sufficient to advise them to correct themselves, but their warnings were in vain, and, becoming at length quite vexed with them, they imposed penances upon them. Some who talked too much they changed into parrots, magpies, and hens; lovers and their mistresses they transformed into pigeons, canary birds, and lap-dogs; those who ridiculed their friends, into monkeys; gormandizers, into pigs; and passionate people into lions. In short, the number of persons they made to do penance was so great that this grove is full of them, and you will therefore find in it folks of all qualities and humours." "From what you have just told me, my dear little canary," said the Queen, "I have reason to believe that you are here only because you were too loving." "It is quite true, Madam," replied the canary. "I am the son of a Spanish Grandee. Love in our country has such absolute power over all hearts, that one cannot resist it without incurring the charge of rebellion. An English Ambassador arrived at the