of
them never recovered their speech afterward. Do you not hate me, my
prince, for being such a termagant?"

The prince, to say the truth, was a little startled at this detail,
but replied with a look that was perfectly satisfactory; and the
princess proceeded with her story.

"At the age of seventeen, the enchanter, Curmudgeon, incited by the
report of my beauty, came to pay my father a visit--my mother being
long since dead. He at first sight fell violently in love, and
demanded me in marriage of my father, who, though a kind-hearted, good
man, was, I believe, heartily glad to get rid of me, but at the same
time frankly apprized him of my infirmity. 'O, ho!' answered the
enchanter, 'never mind that--I shall soon cure her, I warrant you.' He
then approached to make his declaration, when, being exceedingly
provoked at his slighting expressions, which I had overheard, I gave
him such an explosion of satire, spleen, and ill-nature, as he had
never probably heard before. I ridiculed his pretensions, scoffed at
his person, despised his offers, and defied his power, until he could
stand it no longer. Stamping his foot on the floor, waving his hand,
and muttering some cabalistic words, he at length cried out in a rage,
'BE DUMB FOREVER! or at least till such time as some prince shall be
fool enough to fall in love with you, and pine away until he makes no
shadow in the sun.'

"At that moment I found myself changed into a gold-fish, and swimming
in the crystal basin where you first saw me. How long I remained there
before you made your appearance I cannot tell, but I know that I was
heartily tired of my loneliness, and at first felt the loss of speech
very severely. I rejoiced when I first saw you. Your caresses
penetrated my heart, and--you must forgive me, my dear prince--but
when I beheld you wasting away daily, and knew it was for love of me,
my happiness grew with your sorrows, for I felt that my deliverance
was at hand, and that I should live to reward you for all your
sufferings. The day the sun first shone full into the crystal basin,
and I saw that you cast no shadow there, you may remember, I suddenly
darted from your hand and disappeared. It was very ungrateful, but I
could not resist my destiny. I was instantly transformed to my
original likeness, and--but don't be alarmed, my prince, for I assure
you my propensity to talking was effectually and forever repressed, by
the long habit of silence I had preserved as