No, child,' answered the old woman, 'only to you it is decreed that you
must choose between the two. See, I have brought with me my white and
yellow muff. Breathe upon the yellow side and you will become like the
pretty shepherdess you so much admire, and you will have won the love
of the handsome shepherd whose picture I have already seen you studying
with interest. Breathe upon the white side and your looks will not
alter, but you will grow better and happier day by day. Now you may
choose.'

'Ah well,' said the Princess, 'I suppose one can't have everything, and
it's certainly better to be good than pretty.'

And so she breathed upon the white side of the muff and thanked the old
fairy, who immediately disappeared. The Princess Cabbage-Stalk felt very
forlorn when she was gone, and began to think that it was quite time her
father sent an army to rescue her.

'If I could but get up into the turret,' she thought, 'to see if any one
is coming.' But to climb up there seemed impossible. Nevertheless she
presently hit upon a plan. The great clock was in the turret, as she
knew, though the weights hung down into the gallery. Taking one of them
off the rope, she tied herself on in its place, and when the clock was
wound, up she went triumphantly into the turret. She looked out over
the country the first thing, but seeing nothing she sat down to rest a
little, and accidentally leant back against the wall which Curlicue,
or rather Prince Peerless, had so hastily mended. Out fell the broken
stone, and with it the golden key. The clatter it made upon the floor
attracted the Princess Cabbage-Stalk's attention.

She picked it up, and after a moment's consideration decided that it
must belong to the curious old cabinet in the corner, which had no
visible keyhole. And then it was not long before she had it open, and
was admiring the treasures it contained as much as Prince Peerless had
done before her, and at last she came to the carbuncle box. No sooner
had she opened it than with a shudder of horror she tried to throw it
down, but found that some mysterious power compelled her to hold it
against her will. And at this moment a voice in her ear said softly:

'Take courage, Princess; upon this adventure your future happiness
depends.'

'What am I to do?' said the Princess trembling.

'Take the box,' replied the voice, 'and hide it under your pillow, and
when you see an Eagle, give it to him without losing a moment.'

Terrifi