ood thing that could be desired.

The Queen was thanking the Fairies a thousand times for all their
favours, when the door opened, and a crab appeared.

"Ungrateful Queen," said the crab, "you have not deigned to remember
me, the Fairy of the Fountain; and to punish your ingratitude, if the
Princess sees daylight before she is fifteen years old, she will have
cause to repent it, and it may cost her her life. It was well I took
the form of a crab, for your friendship instead of advancing has gone
backwards." Then in spite of all the Queen and the Fairies could say,
the crab went backwards out of the door, leaving them in the saddest
consternation, and it was long before they could decide what was best
to be done.

Then, with three waves of a wand, the Fairies caused a high tower to
spring up; it had neither door nor window, an underground passage was
made, through which everything necessary could be carried, and in
this tower the little Princess was shut up and there she lived by
candlelight, where never a glimpse of the sun could come.

When the Princess Desiree was fourteen years old, the Queen had her
portrait painted, and copies of it were carried to all the Courts
in the world. All the Princes admired it greatly, but there was one
Prince, named Guerrier, who loved it above everything; he used to
stand before the picture and avow his passion, just as if it heard
what he said, and at last he told the King, his father.

"You have resolved that I shall marry the Princess Noire, but this I
can never do, so great is my love for the Princess Desiree."

"But where have you seen her?" enquired the King.

The Prince hastened to fetch her portrait, and the King was so greatly
struck by Desiree's beauty that he agreed to follow his son's wishes
and break off his engagement with the Princess Noire, that he might
wed the Princess Desiree. So the King despatched as ambassador a rich
young lord named Becafigue.

Becafigue was devoted to Prince Guerrier, and he fitted out a most
splendid retinue to visit the Princess Desiree's Court. Besides
numerous magnificent presents, Becafigue took with him the Prince's
portrait, which had been painted by such a clever artist that it would
speak; it could not exactly answer questions, but could make certain
remarks. It was truly a speaking likeness of the young Prince.
Desiree's father and mother were delighted when they heard that the
Prince Guerrier was seeking their daughter's hand