r of the saloon, lest King Charming should see her.
But he did not, being overwhelmed with the ceremonious reception given
him by the queen, who presented to him Troutina, all blazing with
jewels, yet so ugly that King Charming involuntarily turned away his
eyes.

"But, madam, is there not another princess called Florina?"

They pointed to the corner where Florina was hidden, and she came out,
blushing so much, that the young king was dazzled with her beauty, in
spite of her shabby gown. He rose, and made her a profound reverence,
paying her besides so many elegant compliments, that the queen became
very much displeased. King Charming took no heed, but conversed with
Florina for three hours without stopping. Indeed, his admiration of
her was so plain, that the queen and Troutina begged of the king that
she might be shut up in a tower during the whole time of his visit;
so, as soon as she had returned to her apartment, four men in masks
entered, and carried her off, leaving her in a dark cell, and in the
utmost desolation.

Meantime King Charming eagerly awaited her re-appearance, but he saw
her no more; and by the queen's orders, every one about him spoke all
the evil they could of poor Florina, but he refused to believe one
word. "No," said he, "nature could not have united a base nature to
such a sweet innocent face. I will rather suppose that she is
maligned by her stepmother and by Troutina, who is so ugly herself
that no wonder she bears envy towards the fairest woman in the world."

Meanwhile Florina, shut up in her tower, lamented bitterly. "Ah, would
I had been sent here before I saw this amiable prince, who was so kind
to me! It is to prevent my meeting him again, that the queen treats me
so cruelly. Alas! the little beauty I have has cost me sore!"

The queen, to win King Charming for her daughter, made him many
presents; among the rest an order of knighthood, a golden heart,
enamelled in flame-colour, surrounded with many arrows, but pierced by
one only, the motto being, "_She alone_." The heart was made of a
single ruby, as big as an ostrich's egg. Each arrow was a diamond, a
finger's length, and the chain was of pearls, each weighing a pound.
When the young king received this very handsome present, he was much
perplexed, until they told him it came from the princess whom he had
lately seen, and who requested him to be her knight.

"Florina!" cried he, enchanted.

"No, Troutina."

"Then I am sorry