ways gay end merry. The new Queen, who also had a
daughter, very soon sent for her to come to the Palace. Turritella, for
that was her name, had been brought up by her godmother, the Fairy
Mazilla, but in spite of all the care bestowed upon her, she was
neither beautiful nor gracious. Indeed, when the Queen saw how
ill-tempered and ugly she appeared beside Fiordelisa she was in despair,
and did everything in her power to turn the King against his own
daughter, in the hope that he might take a fancy to Turritella. One day
the King said that it was time Fiordelisa and Turritella were married,
so he would give one of them to the first suitable Prince who visited
his Court. The Queen answered:

'My daughter certainly ought to be the first to be married; she is older
than yours, and a thousand times more charming!'

The King, who hated disputes, said, 'Very well, it's no affair of mine,
settle it your own way.'

Very soon after came the news that King Charming, who was the most
handsome and magnificent Prince in all the country round, was on his way
to visit the King. As soon as the Queen heard this, she set all her
jewellers, tailors, weavers, and embroiderers to work upon splendid
dresses and ornaments for Turritella, but she told the King that
Fiordelisa had no need of anything new, and the night before the King
was to arrive, she bribed her waiting woman to steal away all the
Princess's own dresses and jewels, so that when the day came, and
Fiordelisa wished to adorn herself as became her high rank, not even a
ribbon could she find.

However, as she easily guessed who had played her such a trick, she made
no complaint, but sent to the merchants for some rich stuffs. But they
said that the Queen had expressly forbidden them to supply her with any,
and they dared not disobey. So the Princess had nothing left to put on
but the little white frock she had been wearing the clay before; and
dressed in that, she went down when the time of the King's arrival came,
and sat in a corner hoping to escape notice. The Queen received her
guest with great ceremony, and presented him to her daughter, who was
gorgeously attired, but so much splendour only made her ugliness more
noticeable, and the King, after one glance at her, looked the other way.
The Queen, however, only thought that he was bashful, and took pains to
keep Turritella in full view. King Charming then asked if there was not
another Princess, called Fiordelisa.

'Yes,