nly for three days."

"But what dress have you prepared for those three days?"

"Look, godmother! look!" and she pointed to the trunk, which was still
open.

The fairy smiled, drew a small bottle from her pocket and said: "I
intend that my dear Rosette shall make a sensation by her dress. This is
unworthy of her."

The fairy opened the bottle, and threw some drops of the liquid it
contained upon the robe, which became a coarse India rubber cloth; then
a drop upon the cotton stockings, which changed into blue yarn; a third
drop upon the bouquet, which became a hen's egg; a fourth upon the
shoes, and they immediately changed into coarse felt.

"In this manner," said she, with a gracious air, "do I wish my Rosette
to appear. You must attire yourself in all this and, to complete your
toilette, here is a necklace of nuts, a band for your hair of burrs, and
bracelets of dried beans." She kissed Rosette who was completely
stupefied. The fairy then disappeared and the nurse burst into tears.

"Alas! it was not worth my while to give myself all the trouble of
preparing this poor robe. Oh, my poor Rosette! Do not go to this
festival. Pretend you are ill, my child."

"No," said Rosette; "that would be to displease my godmother. I am sure
that she does what is best for me. She is much wiser than I am. I will
go and I will wear all that my godmother has brought me." And the good
and obedient Rosette thought no more of her dress. She went to bed and
slept tranquilly.

She had scarce arranged her hair and dressed herself in the morning when
the chariot of the fairy came for her. She embraced her nurse, took her
little trunk and departed.

ROSETTE AT THE COURT OF THE KING HER FATHER

They were but two hours on the way, for the king's capital was only ten
leagues from the farm. When Rosette arrived, she was surprised to see
that she had to descend in a little, dirty court-yard, where a page
attended her.

"Come, princess, I am commissioned to conduct you to your chamber."

"Can I not see the queen my mother?" asked Rosette, timidly.

"In two hours, princess, when they are assembled for dinner, you will
see her. In the mean time you can dress."

Rosette followed the page, who led her through a long corridor, at the
end of which was a narrow staircase. She ascended, slowly, after a long,
long time arriving at another corridor where she entered the chamber
destined for her. The queen had lodged Rosette in one of th