Page:Fairytales00auln.djvu/669

Rh brothers arrived, the delighted King went with all his court to receive them, at the top of the stairs. The apple sang wonderfully well, the water danced, and the little bird that told everything spoke better than an oracle. All four knelt to the King, took his hand, and kissed it with as much respect as affection. He embraced them, and said, "I am much obliged to you, lovely strangers, for coming here to-day; your presence gives me great pleasure." With these words he conducted them into a grand saloon, where several musicians were performing, and various tables, splendidly furnished, left nothing to be desired in the way of good cheer.

The Queen-Mother arrived, accompanied by her future daughter-in-law, the admiral's wife, and a great number of ladies, and among them the poor Queen, who had a long strap of leather round her neck, which also linked the three dogs to her. They conducted her into the middle of the saloon, where they had placed a cauldron filled with bones and bad meat, which the Queen had ordered for their dinner.

When Belle-Etoile and the Princes saw this unhappy Princess, though they knew her not, tears rushed into their eyes, either from reflections upon the vicissitudes of this life, which affected them, or that they were touched by an instinct of nature, which will often make itself felt. But what did the wicked Queen think of a return so unexpected, and so contrary to her wishes? She cast so furious a look at Feintise, that she sincerely desired the earth would open and swallow her up.

The King presented the beautiful children to his mother, saying a thousand kind things of them; and in spite of the uneasiness she endured, she received them graciously, and looked upon them as favourably as though she loved them, for dissimulation was in vogue even at that time. The feast passed off very gaily, although the King was very much distressed to see his wife eating with the whelps, as the meanest of all creatures; but having resolved to be as complaisant as possible to his mother, who obliged him to re-marry, he left everything to her orders.

At the end of the repast, the King addressed himself to Belle-Etoile. "I know," said he, "you are in possession of three treasures which are unequalled. I congratulate you,