Page:Lange - The Blue Fairy Book.djvu/261

 burn, and I saw a fairy, whom I had known as long as I could remember, and whose ugliness had always horrified me. She was leaning upon the arm of a most beautiful young girl, who wore chains of gold on her wrists and was evidently her slave.



‘“Why, Ragotte,” I said, for that was the fairy’s name, “what is the meaning of all this? Is it by your orders that I am here?”

‘“And whose fault is it,” she answered, “that you have never understood me until now? Must a powerful fairy like myself condescend to explain her doings to you who are no better than an ant by comparison, though you think yourself a great king?”

‘“Call me what you like,” I said impatiently; “but what is it that you want—my crown, or my cities, or my treasures?”

‘“Treasures!’ said the fairy, disdainfully. “If I chose I could make any one of my scullions richer and more powerful than you. I do not want your treasures, but,” she added softly, “if you will give me your heart—if you will marry me—I will add twenty kingdoms to the one you have already; you shall have a hundred castles full of gold and five hundred full of silver, and, in short, anything you like to ask me for.”

‘“Madam Ragotte,” said I, “when one is at the bottom of a pit where one has fully expected to be roasted alive, it is impossible to think of asking such a charming person as you are to marry one! I beg that you will set me at liberty, and then I shall hope to answer you fittingly.”

‘“Ah!” said she, “if you loved me really you would not care