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Rh both she and the Queen had paid so little attention to her advice; for she had told them several times, that if the Princess set out before she was fifteen, she would meet with some evil. However, she would not abandon her to the fury of the Fairy of the Fountain; and it was she who conducted Giroflée towards the forest, that this faithful confidant might console the Princess in her misfortune.

This lovely Hind was quietly grazing by the side of a brook, when Giroflée, who could scarcely walk, lay down to rest herself. She was looking very mournfully which way she should go to find her dear Princess. When the Hind saw her, she suddenly leaped the brook, which was wide and deep, and came and threw herself upon Giroflée, and caressed her a thousand times. She was quite surprised at it; she did not know whether the animals in this province had any particular friendship for people which humanised them, or whether this one knew her—for in fact it was very singular, that a hind should think of doing the honours of the forest so well.

She looked at it earnestly, and saw, with much surprise, large tears falling from its eyes. She no longer doubted that it was her dear Princess; she took her feet, and kissed them, with as much respect and affection as though she was kissing her hands. She spoke to her, and was convinced that the Hind understood her, but that she could not answer her; their tears and sighs were redoubled. Giroflée promised her mistress that she would not leave her any more. The Hind made a thousand little signs with her head and her eyes, which meant, she should be very glad of it, and that it would console her for some of her troubles.

They remained together nearly all the day. The Hind, fearing that her faithful Giroflée would want something to eat, led her to a place in the forest where she had remarked there was some wild fruit that was very good. Giroflée ate a great quantity of it, for she was dying with hunger; but after she had finished her meal, she became very uneasy, not knowing where they should retire for the night—for it was impossible to resolve on remaining in the middle of the forest, exposed to all the perils that might overtake them.

"Are you not afraid, charming Hind," said she, "to pass the night here?"