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560 ragouts. The people in those parts were fond of good living, so everybody flocked to her establishment. Nothing was talked of but the excellent cook: they scarcely allowed her time to breathe. In the meanwhile her three daughters grew up, and their beauty would have been no less talked of than the Princess's sauces, if she had not kept them in their chamber, out of which they were rarely allowed to go.

On one of the finest days in the year, there came in a little old woman, who seemed very weary. She leaned upon her stick, her body was almost bent double, and her face full of wrinkles. "I come," said she, "to eat one of your good dinners, for I wish, before I go to another world, to be able to boast of something I have enjoyed in this." She took a straw chair, seated herself near the fire, and told the Princess to make haste. As she could not do everything herself, she called her three daughters; the first was named Roussette, the second, Brunette, and the third, Blondine. She had named each after the colour of her hair. They were dressed like country girls, in boddices and petticoats of different colours. The youngest was the handsomest, and the most gentle. Their mother ordered one to fetch some young pigeons out of the dove-cot, another to kill some chickens, and the third to make the pastry. In short, they quickly set before the old woman a nice clean table-cloth, a very white napkin, highly polished earthenware, and a good dinner of several courses. The wine was good, there was no lack of ice, the glasses were rinsed every moment by the fairest hands in the world; all this whetted the appetite of the good little old woman. She got a little merry, and said a thousand things, in which the Princess, who appeared to be taking no notice, discovered considerable wit.

The meal, being finished as gaily as it began, the old woman arose, and said to the Princess, "My very good friend, if I had money I would pay you: but I have been long a beggar. I could have found no such good cheer elsewhere, and all I can promise you is, that I will send you better customers than myself." The Princess smiled, and said to her kindly, "Go, my good mother, do not trouble yourself, I am always paid when I have gratified any one." "We are delighted to have waited on you," said Blondine; "and if you will stay supper, we shall be still more so." "How happy are they,"