above all to be heedful that she
did not see the light of day until her fifteenth birthday, saying that
the ambassador had promised that until then she should be placed where
there was no other light than that of candles. But now as they drew
near their destination, while it was broad daylight the wicked woman,
urged by her envious daughter, Longue Epine, all at once took a large
knife which she had brought for the purpose, and with it cut the
covering of the carriage.

Then, for the first time, the Princess Desiree saw the light of day!!!
Hardly had she perceived it when, uttering a deep sigh, she threw
herself from the carriage, and in the form of a white fawn fleetly
fled into a forest near by.

The Fairy of the Fountain, who was the cause of this disaster seeing
that all who were accompanying the Princess were about to hasten to
the town to tell the Prince Guerrier what had happened, called up a
great thunderstorm and scattered them in every direction. Only the
Lady in Waiting, Longue Epine and Giroflee were left, Giroflee, who
ran after her mistress, making the trees and rocks echo with her
mournful calls. Then Longue Epine clothed herself in the rich bridal
robes provided for Desiree. She placed the crown upon her head, the
sceptre and orb she carried in her hands, so that all should take her
for the Princess. With her mother bearing her train she gravely walked
in the direction of the town.

[Illustration: "A GREAT THUNDERSTORM SCATTERED THEM IN EVERY
DIRECTION."]

They had not gone far when a brilliant procession came towards them,
amongst whom was the sick Prince in a litter, and to those in advance
Longue Epine announced that she was the Princess Desiree, with her
Lady in Waiting, but that a jealous Fairy had sent a thunderstorm
which had destroyed her carriage and scattered her other attendants.
When the Prince was told of this, he could not refrain from saying
to the messengers: "Now acknowledge, is she not truly a miracle of
beauty, a Princess beyond compare?"

No one replied at first, and then one of the boldest said,

"Sir, you will see; apparently the fatigue of the journey has somewhat
changed her." The Prince was surprised, but when he saw Longue Epine
words fail to express what he felt.

She was so tall that it was alarming, and the garments of the Princess
hardly came to her knees. She was frightfully thin, and her nose,
which was more hooked than a parrot's beak, shone like a danger
signal