to them to
wonder what country they had reached. So you may guess how astonished
they were one day, when having at last been successful after their long
and weary chase, they cried aloud at the same instant: 'At last I have
saved my beloved,' and then recognising each other's voice looked up,
and rushed to meet one another with the wildest joy. Surprise kept them
silent while for one delicious moment they gazed into each other's eyes,
and just then who should come up but King Gridelin, for it was into his
kingdom they had accidentally strayed. He recognised them in his turn
and greeted them joyfully, but when they turned afterwards to look for
the Rosy Mole, the Chaffinch, and the Trotting-Mouse, they had vanished,
and in their places stood a lovely lady whom they did not know, the
Black Bird, and the Green Giant. King Gridelin had no sooner set eyes
upon the lady than with a cry of joy he clasped her in his arms, for it
was no other than his long-lost wife, Santorina, about whose
imprisonment in Fairyland you may perhaps read some day.

[Illustration]

Then the Black Bird and the Green Giant resumed their natural form, for
they were enchanters, and up flew Lolotte and Mirlifiche in their
chariots, and then there was a great kissing and congratulating, for
everybody had regained someone he loved, including the enchanters, who
loved their natural forms dearly. After this they repaired to the
Palace, and the wedding of Prince Vivien and Princess Placida was held
at once with all the splendour imaginable.

King Gridelin and Queen Santorina, after all their experiences, had no
further desire to reign, so they retired happily to a peaceful place,
leaving their kingdom to the Prince and Princess, who were beloved by
all their subjects, and found their greatest happiness all their lives
long in making other people happy.

_Nonchalante et Papillon._

_LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE THREE-EYES_

There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest was
called Little One-eye, because she had only one eye in the middle of her
forehead; and the second, Little Two-eyes, because she had two eyes like
other people; and the youngest, Little Three-eyes, because she had three
eyes, and _her_ third eye was also in the middle of her forehead. But
because Little Two-eyes did not look any different from other children,
her sisters and mother could not bear her. They would say to her, 'You
with you