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564 him, Roussette, the Admiral's lady, contrived to hide in the bottom of her coach all the fine basins and gold vases from the buffet, determined not to lose one of them; but the Fairy, who saw everything though nobody saw her, changed them into earthenware. When Roussette arrived at Court, and would have carried them into her cabinet, she found nothing that was worth the trouble. The King and Queen tenderly embraced the prudent Princess, and assured her that she might command whatever lay in their power. They quitted the rural abode, and repaired to the city, preceded by trumpets, hautbois, kettle and other drums, which made noise enough to be heard a long way off. The confidants of the Queen-Mother had advised her to conceal her displeasure, as it would offend the King, and the consequences might be disagreeable. She constrained herself, therefore, and received her two daughters-in-law with apparent kindness, making them presents of jewels, and praising whatever they did, whether it was good or bad.

The fair Queen and Princess Brunette were united by a strict friendship; but Roussette hated them both mortally—"Only see," said she, "the good luck of my two sisters; one is a Queen, the other wife of a Prince of the blood-royal. Their husbands adore them; and I, who am the eldest, and who consider myself an hundred times handsomer than either of them, I have only married an admiral, who doesn't care for me half as much as he ought." The jealousy she entertained of her sisters soon made her one of the party of the Queen-Mother, for it was well known that the affection she displayed for her daughters-in-law was but feigned, and that nothing would give her more pleasure than an opportunity to do them some mischief. The Queen and the Princess were both approaching the period for their confinement, when unfortunately a serious war broke out, and the King was compelled to depart to place himself at the head of his army. The young Queen and the Princess being obliged to remain behind in the power of the Queen-Mother, beseeched the King to permit them to return to their own mother, and seek consolation with her during the cruel absence of their husbands. The King could not consent to this; he conjured his wife to remain in the palace; he assured her that his mother would use her well, and indeed he implored her most