Page:The Hind in the Wood-1875.djvu/6

2 As soon as the crab had left, the Queen asked the fairies to preserve her daughter from the threatened evil, and they decided to build a palace without doors or windows, and to educate the Princess there till the fatal period should have expired. Three taps of a wand produced this grand edifice, in which there was no light but that of wax candles and lamps; but there were so many of these that it was as light as day. The Princess′s intelligence and skill enabled her to learn very quickly, while her wit and beauty charmed everybody; the Queen would never have lost sight of her, if her duty had not obliged her to be near the King. The good fairies every now and then went to see the Princess. As the time drew near for her to leave the palace, the Queen had her portrait taken, and sent it to the greatest courts of the world. There was not a prince who did not admire it; but there was one who could never leave it. He shut himself up, and talked to it as though it could understand him. The King, who now hardly ever saw his son, inquired what prevented his appearing as cheerful as usual. Some courtiers told him they feared the Prince would go out of his mind; for he remained whole days shut up in his room, talking as though he had some lady with him. The King sent for his son, and asked him why he was so altered. The Prince threw himself at his fathers feet, and said, “I confess that I am desperately in love with Princess Désirếe, and wish to marry her.” He ran for the portrait, and brought it to the King, who said, “Ah! my dear Guerrier, I consent to your wish. I shall become young again when I have so lovely a Princess at my court."

The Prince begged the King to send an ambassador to Princess Désirếe; and Becafigue, a very eloquent young nobleman, was selected.

The ambassador took his leave of the Prince, who said, “Remember, my dear Becafigue, that my life depends upon this marriage. Omit no means of bringing the lovely Princess back with you.”

The ambassador took with him many presents for the Princess, and also a portrait of the Prince.

On his arrival, the King and Queen were enchanted; they had heard of Prince Guerrier′s personal merits, and were well content to have found a husband for their daughter so worthy of her.

The King and Queen resolved that the ambassador should see Désirếe, but the Fairy Tulip said to the Queen, “Take care, Madam, that you do not introduce Becafigue to the Princess; he must not see her yet, and do not consent to let her go until she is fifteen years old; for if she quit her palace before then some misfortune will befall her.” And the Queen promised to follow her advice. On the ambassadors arrival, he asked to see the Princess, and was surprised that that favour was denied him. “It is no caprice of ours, my Lord Becafigue,”