w how to begin, I lay down as I was. Unfortunately,
the Fairy found this out, and just as I was falling into a sweet
slumber, she made me get up once more, but even then I managed to escape
her vigilance, and only took off my upper robe. Indeed, I may tell you
in confidence, that I always find disobedience answer very well. One is
often scolded, it is true, but then one has been saved some trouble.

'At the earliest dawn of day Mirlifiche woke me, and made me take many
journeys to the stable to bring her word how her unicorn had slept, and
how much hay he had eaten, and then to find out what time it was, and
if it was a fine day. I was so slow, and did my errands so badly, that
before she left she called the King and Queen and said to them:

'"I am much more pleased with you this year. Continue to make the best
of your farm, if you wish to get back to your kingdom, and also take
care of this little Princess for me, and teach her to be useful, that
when I come I may find her cured of her faults. If she is not--"

'Here she broke off with a significant look, and mounting my enemy the
unicorn, speedily disappeared.

'Then the King and Queen, turning to me, asked me what I could do.

'"Nothing at all, I assure you," I replied in a tone which really
ought to have convinced them, but they went on to describe various
employments, and tried to discover which of them would be most to my
taste. However, at last I persuaded them that to do nothing whatever
would be the only thing that would suit me, and that if they really
wanted to be kind to me, they would let me go to bed and to sleep,
and not tease me about doing anything. To my great joy, they not only
permitted this, but actually, when they had their own meals, the Queen
brought my portion up to me. But early the next morning she appeared at
my bedside, saying, with an apologetic air:

'"My pretty child, I am afraid you must really make up your mind to get
up to-day. I know quite well how delightful it is to be thoroughly idle,
for when my husband and I were King and Queen we did nothing at all from
morning to night, and I sincerely hope that it will not be long before
those happy days will come again for us. But at present we have not
reached them, nor have you, and you know from what the Fairy said that
perhaps worse things may happen to us if she is not obeyed. Make
haste, I beg of you, and come down to breakfast, for I have put by some
delicious cream for you."

'