n they were
restored to their natural forms, and their surprise and joy were great
when they recognised each other. At this moment Florimond and the Fairy
Douceline appeared in great splendour, and the Fairy, as she descended
from her chariot, said with a smile:

'So you two have found one another again, I see, but I have still a
surprise left for you. Don't hesitate, Princess, to tell your devoted
shepherd how dearly you love him, as he is the very Prince your father
sent you to marry. So come here both of you and let me crown you, and we
will have the wedding at once.'

The Prince and Princess thanked her with all their hearts, and declared
that to her they owed all their happiness, and then the two Princesses,
who had so lately been Mice, came and begged that the Fairy would use
her power to release their unhappy friends who were still under the
Enchanter's spell.

'Really,' said the Fairy Douceline, 'on this happy occasion I cannot
find it in my heart to refuse you anything.' And she gave three strokes
of her wand upon the Golden Branch, and immediately all the prisoners in
the Enchanter's castle found themselves free, and came with all speed to
the wonderful garden, where one touch of the Golden Branch restored
each one to his natural form, and they greeted one another with many
rejoicings. To complete her generous work the Fairy presented them with
the wonderful cabinet and all the treasures it contained, which were
worth at least ten kingdoms. But to Prince Peerless and the Princess
Sunbeam she gave the palace and garden of the Golden Branch, where,
immensely rich and greatly beloved by all their subjects, they lived
happily ever after.(18)

(18) Le Rameau d'Or. Par Madame d'Aulnoy.

THE THREE DWARFS

THERE was once upon a time a man who lost his wife, and a woman who lost
her husband; and the man had a daughter and so had the woman. The two
girls were great friends and used often to play together. One day the
woman turned to the man's daughter and said:

'Go and tell your father that I will marry him, and then you shall wash
in milk and drink wine, but my own daughter shall wash in water and
drink it too.'

The girl went straight home and told her father what the woman had said.

'What am I to do?' he answered. 'Marriage is either a success or it is a
failure.'

At last, being of an undecided character and not being able to make up
his mind, he took off his boot, and handing it to his daughter