'Don't let us waste time; we must go and harangue the people.'

So she walked first, looking very serious and dignified, and wearing a
dress the train of which was at least ten ells long. Behind her came the
Queen wearing a blue velvet robe embroidered with gold, and a diamond
crown that was brighter than the sun itself. Last of all walked Delicia,
who was so beautiful that it was nothing short of marvellous.

They proceeded through the streets, returning the salutations of all
they met, great or small, and all the people turned and followed them,
wondering who these noble ladies could be.

When the audience hall was quite full, the Fairy said to the subjects of
the Wicked King that if they would accept Delicia, who was the daughter
of the Jolly King, as their Queen, she would undertake to find a
suitable husband for her, and would promise that during their reign
there should be nothing but rejoicing and merry-making, and all dismal
things should be entirely banished. Upon this the people cried with one
accord, 'We will, we will! we have been gloomy and miserable too long
already.' And they all took hands and danced round the Queen, and
Delicia, and the good Fairy, singing: 'Yes, yes; we will, we will!'

Then there were feasts and fireworks in every street in the town, and
early the next morning the Fairy, who had been all over the world in the
night, brought back with her, in her flying chariot, the most handsome
and good-tempered Prince she could find anywhere. He was so charming
that Delicia loved him from the moment their eyes met, and as for him,
of course he could not help thinking himself the luckiest Prince in
the world. The Queen felt that she had really come to the end of her
misfortunes at last, and they all lived happily ever after.(10)

(10) La bonne vetite Souris' par Madame d'Aulnoy.

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET

ONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen who had one charming
daughter. She was so graceful and pretty and clever that she was called
Graciosa, and the Queen was so fond of her that she could think of
nothing else.

Everyday she gave the Princess a lovely new frock of gold brocade,
or satin, or velvet, and when she was hungry she had bowls full of
sugar-plums, and at least twenty pots of jam. Everybody said she was
the happiest Princess in the world. Now there lived at this same court
a very rich old duchess whose name was Grumbly. She was more frightful
than tongue can tell; her