d that he had better think of something else, for she would never
consent to such a thing. So they thought and thought, but they could not
tell what to do, until at last the Queen heard that in a great forest
near the castle there was an old hermit, who lived in a hollow tree, and
that people came from far and near to consult him; so she said:

'I had better go and ask his advice; perhaps he will know what to do to
prevent the misfortunes which the fairies foretold.'

She set out very early the next morning, mounted upon a pretty little
white mule, which was shod with solid gold, and two of her ladies
rode behind her on beautiful horses. When they reached the forest they
dismounted, for the trees grew so thickly that the horses could not
pass, and made their way on foot to the hollow tree where the hermit
lived. At first when he saw them coming he was vexed, for he was not
fond of ladies; but when he recognised the Queen, he said:

'You are welcome, Queen. What do you come to ask of me?'

Then the Queen told him all the fairies had foreseen for Rosette, and
asked what she should do, and the hermit answered that she must shut the
Princess up in a tower and never let her come out of it again. The Queen
thanked and rewarded him, and hastened back to the castle to tell the
King. When he heard the news he had a great tower built as quickly as
possible, and there the Princess was shut up, and the King and Queen and
her two brothers went to see her every day that she might not be dull.
The eldest brother was called 'the Great Prince,' and the second
'the Little Prince.' They loved their sister dearly, for she was the
sweetest, prettiest princess who was ever seen, and the least little
smile from her was worth more than a hundred pieces of gold. When
Rosette was fifteen years old the Great Prince went to the King and
asked if it would not soon be time for her to be married, and the Little
Prince put the same question to the Queen.

Their majesties were amused at them for thinking of it, but did not make
any reply, and soon after both the King and the Queen were taken ill,
and died on the same day. Everybody was sorry, Rosette especially, and
all the bells in the kingdom were tolled.

Then all the dukes and counsellors put the Great Prince upon a golden
throne, and crowned him with a diamond crown, and they all cried,
'Long live the King!' And after that there was nothing but feasting and
rejoicing.

The new King and his