aid brought hers up with the greatest possible care, and
treated it almost as if it were her son. But Renzolla said: 'I don't
know what to think. Have I come among a lot of lunatics? Does the king
imagine that I am going to comb and feed a dog with my own hands?' With
these words she opened the window and threw the poor little beast out,
and he fell on the ground as dead as a stone.

When a few months had passed the king sent a message to say he would
like to see how the dogs were getting on. Renzolla, who felt very
uncomfortable in her mind at this request, hurried off once more to the
fairy. This time she found an old man at the door of the fairy's palace,
who said to her: 'Who are you, and what do you want?'

When Renzolla heard his question she answered angrily: 'Don't you know
me, old Goat-beard? And how dare you address me in such a way?'

'The pot can't call the kettle black,' answered the old man, 'for it is
not I, but you who have a goat's head. Just wait a moment, you
ungrateful wretch, and I will show you to what a pass your want of
gratitude has brought you.'

With these words he hurried away, and returned with a mirror, which he
held up before Renzolla. At the sight of her ugly, hairy face, the girl
nearly fainted with horror, and she broke into loud sobs at seeing her
countenance so changed.

[Illustration: RENZOLLA SEES HER FACE IN THE MIRROR]

Then the old man said: 'You must remember, Renzolla, that you are a
peasant's daughter, and that the fairy turned you into a queen; but you
were ungrateful, and never as much as thanked her for all she had done
for you. Therefore she has determined to punish you. But if you wish to
lose your long white beard, throw yourself at the fairy's feet and
implore her to forgive you. She has a tender heart, and will, perhaps,
take pity on you.'

Renzolla, who was really sorry for her conduct, took the old man's
advice, and the fairy not only gave her back her former face, but she
dressed her in a gold embroidered dress, presented her with a beautiful
carriage, and brought her back, accompanied by a host of servants, to
her husband. When the king saw her looking as beautiful as ever, he fell
in love with her once more, and bitterly repented having caused her so
much suffering.

So Renzolla lived happily ever afterwards, for she loved her husband,
honoured the fairy, and was grateful to the old man for having told her
the truth.

[From the Italian, _Kletke_.]