ir maids.
They had no longer a vestige of beauty. The king and queen were as
unhappy and as despairing as the princesses and indeed they saw no
remedy for their grief and disappointment.

SECOND DAY OF THE FESTIVAL

In the morning a coarse servant brought Rosette bread and milk and
offered her services to dress her. Rosette, who did not wish this rude
domestic to see the change in her dress, thanked her smilingly and
replied that she was in the habit of arranging her hair and dressing
herself. Rosette then began her toilette. When she had washed and combed
her hair she wished to arrange it with the superb carbuncle she had worn
the day before but she saw with surprise that the ebony case had
disappeared and in its place was a small wooden trunk, upon which there
lay a folded paper. She took it and read the following directions:

"Here are your things, Rosette. Dress yourself as you were dressed
yesterday, in the clothing you brought from the farm."

Rosette did not hesitate an instant, certain that her godmother would
come to her help at the proper time. She arranged her pullet wing in a
different manner from that of the day before, put on her dress, her
necklace, her shoes, her bracelets and then stood before the glass.

When she saw her own reflection in the mirror she was amazed. She was
attired in the richest and most splendid riding-suit of sky-blue velvet
and pearl buttons as large as walnuts; her stockings were bordered with
a wreath of pearls; her head-dress was a cap of sky-blue velvet with a
long plume of dazzling whiteness, which floated down to her waist and
was attached by a single pearl of unparalleled beauty and splendor. The
boots were also of blue velvet embroidered in gold and pearls. Her
bracelets and necklace also were of pearls, so large and so pure that a
single one would have paid for the king's palace.

At the moment when Rosette was about to leave her chamber to follow the
page, a sweet voice whispered in her ear, "Rosette, do not mount any
other horse than the one the prince Charmant will present you."

She turned and saw no one; but she felt convinced that this counsel came
from her good godmother.

"Thanks, dear godmother," she said, in low tones. She felt a sweet kiss
upon her cheek and smiled with happiness and gratitude.

The little page conducted her, as the day before, into the royal salon,
where her appearance produced a greater effect than before. Her fine,
sw