rawn by six splendid ostriches. In it
was seated the fairy queen, escorted by a dozen other fairies mounted on
dragons.

All having dismounted, Placida told her adventures, and the fairy queen
approved all she had done, and proposed turning Mutinosa into bronze
like her horse. Placida, however, who was very kind and gentle, begged
for a milder sentence, and at last it was settled that Mutinosa should
become her slave for life unless she should have a child to take her
place.

The king was told of his wife's fate and submitted to it, which, as he
could do nothing to help it, was the only course open to him.

The fairies then all dispersed, Placida taking her slave with her, and
on reaching her palace she said: 'You ought by rights to be scullion,
but as you have been delicately brought up the change might be too great
for you. I shall therefore only order you to sweep my rooms carefully,
and to wash and comb my little dog.'

Mutinosa felt there was no use in disobeying, so she did as she was bid
and said nothing.

After some time she gave birth to a most lovely little girl, and when
she was well again the fairy gave her a good lecture on her past life,
made her promise to behave better in future, and sent her back to the
king, her husband.

Placida now gave herself up entirely to the little princess who was left
in her charge. She anxiously thought over which of the fairies she would
invite to be godmothers, so as to secure the best gift, for her adopted
child.

At last she decided on two very kindly and cheerful fairies, and asked
them to the christening feast. Directly it was over the baby was brought
to them in a lovely crystal cradle hung with red silk curtains
embroidered with gold.

The little thing smiled so sweetly at the fairies that they decided to
do all they could for her. They began by naming her Graziella, and then
Placida said: 'You know, dear sisters, that the commonest form of spite
or punishment amongst us consists of changing beauty to ugliness,
cleverness to stupidity, and oftener still to change a person's form
altogether. Now, as we can only each bestow one gift, I think the best
plan will be for one of you to give her beauty, the other good
understanding, whilst I will undertake that she shall never be changed
into any other form.'

The two godmothers quite agreed, and as soon as the little princess had
received their gifts, they went home, and Placida gave herself up to the
child's ed