lovely Fairy with her golden lance, and the hideous little Dwarf and her
rusty pike. But very soon it was evident that the Beauty had the best
of it, and the Dwarf turned her bats' heads and flickered away in great
confusion, while the Fairy came down to where the Princess stood,
and said, smiling, 'You see Princess, I have completely routed that
malicious old Carabosse. Will you believe it! she actually wanted to
claim authority over you for ever, because you came out of the tower
four days before the twenty years were ended. However, I think I have
settled her pretensions, and I hope you will be very happy and enjoy the
freedom I have won for you.'

The Princess thanked her heartily, and then the Fairy despatched one of
her peacocks to her palace to bring a gorgeous robe for Mayblossom, who
certainly needed it, for her own was torn to shreds by the thorns and
briars. Another peacock was sent to the Admiral to tell him that he
could now land in perfect safety, which he at once did, bringing all
his men with him, even to Jack-the-Chatterer, who, happening to pass the
spit upon which the Admiral's dinner was roasting, snatched it up and
brought it with him.

Admiral Cocked-Hat was immensely surprised when he came upon the golden
chariot, and still more so to see two lovely ladies walking under
the trees a little farther away. When he reached them, of course he
recognised the Princess, and he went down on his knees and kissed her
hand quite joyfully. Then she presented him to the Fairy, and told him
how Carabosse had been finally routed, and he thanked and congratulated
the Fairy, who was most gracious to him. While they were talking she
cried suddenly:

'I declare I smell a savoury dinner.'

'Why yes, Madam, here it is,' said Jack-the-Chatterer, holding up the
spit, where all the pheasants and partridges were frizzling. 'Will your
Highness please to taste any of them?'

'By all means,' said the Fairy, 'especially as the Princess will
certainly be glad of a good meal.'

So the Admiral sent back to his ship for everything that was needful,
and they feasted merrily under the trees. By the time they had finished
the peacock had come back with a robe for the Princess, in which the
Fairy arrayed her. It was of green and gold brocade, embroidered with
pearls and rubies, and her long golden hair was tied back with strings
of diamonds and emeralds, and crowned with flowers. The Fairy made
her mount beside her in the golden