held　in　her　hand；　and　instantly　I　became　a　hen；　and　there
  was　an　end　of　my　talking！　I　was　very　sad；　and　my　husband；
  who　was　out　when　it　happened；　never　knew　what
  had　become　of　me。　After　seeking　me　everywhere　he
  believed　that　I　must　have　been　drowned；　or　eaten　up　by
  wild　beasts　in　the　forest。　That　same　lady　came　here　once
  more；　and　commanded　that　you　should　be　called　Felicia；
  and　left　the　ring　and　the　pot　of　pinks　to　be　given　to　you；
  and　while　she　was　in　the　house　twenty…five　of　the　King's
  guards　came　to　search　for　you；　doubtless　meaning　to　kill
  you；　but　she　muttered　a　few　words；　and　immediately　they
  all　turned　into　cabbages。　It　was　one　of　them　whom　you
  threw　out　of　your　window　yesterday。
  〃I　don't　know　how　it　was　that　he　could　speakI　have
  never　heard　either　of　them　say　a　word　before；　nor　have
  I　been　able　to　do　it　myself　until　now。〃
  The　Princess　was　greatly　astonished　at　the　hen's　story；
  and　said　kindly：　〃I　am　truly　sorry　for　you；　my　poor　nurse；
  and　wish　it　was　in　my　power　to　restore　you　to　your　real
  form。　But　we　must　not　despair；　it　seems　to　me；　after
  what　you　have　told　me；　that　something　must　be　going
  to　happen　soon。　Just　now；　however；　I　must　go　and　look
  for　my　pinks；　which　I　love　better　than　anything　in　the
  world。〃
  Bruno　had　gone　out　into　the　forest；　never　thinking　that
  Felicia　would　search　in　his　room　for　the　pinks；　and　she
  was　delighted　by　his　unexpected　absence；　and　thought　to
  get　them　back　without　further　trouble。　But　as　soon　as
  she　entered　the　room　she　saw　a　terrible　army　of　rats；　who
  were　guarding　the　straw　bed；　and　when　she　attempted　to
  approach　it　they　sprang　at　her；　biting　and　scratching
  furiously。　Quite　terrified；　she　drew　back；　crying　out：
  〃Oh！　my　dear　pinks；　how　can　you　stay　here　in　such　bad
  company？〃
  Then　she　suddenly　bethought　herself　of　the　pitcher　of
  water；　and；　hoping　that　it　might　have　some　magic　power；
  she　ran　to　fetch　it；　and　sprinkled　a　few　drops　over　the
  fierce…looking　swarm　of　rats。　In　a　moment　not　a　tail　or　a
  whisker　was　to　be　seen。　Each　one　had　made　for　his　hole　as
  fast　as　his　legs　could　carry　him；　so　that　the　Princess　could
  safely　take　her　pot　of　pinks。　She　found　them　nearly　dying
  for　want　of　water；　and　hastily　poured　all　that　was　left　in
  the　pitcher　upon　them。　As　she　bent　over　them；　enjoying
  their　delicious　scent；　a　soft　voice；　that　seemed　to　rustle
  among　the　leaves；　said：
  〃Lovely　Felicia；　the　day　has　come　at　last　when　I　may
  have　the　happiness　of　telling　you　how　even　the　flowers
  love　you　and　rejoice　in　your　beauty。
  The　Princess；　quite　overcome　by　the　strangeness　of
  hearing　a　cabbage；　a　hen；　and　a　pink　speak；　and　by　the
  terrible　sight　of　an　army　of　rats；　suddenly　became　very
  pale；　and　fainted　away。
  At　this　moment　in　came　Bruno。　Working　hard　in　the
  heat　had　not　improved　his　temper；　and　when　he　saw　that
  Felicia　had　succeeded　in　finding　her　pinks　he　was　so　angry
  that　he　dragged　her　out　into　the　garden　and　shut　the　door
  upon　her。　The　fresh　air　soon　made　her　open　her　pretty
  eyes；　and　there　before　her　stood　the　Queen　of　the　Woods；
  looking　as　charming　as　ever。
  〃You　have　a　bad　brother；〃she　said；　〃I　saw
  he　turned　you　out。　Shall　I　punish　him　for　it？〃
  〃Ah！　no；　madam；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　not　angry　with
  him。
  〃But　supposing　he　was　not　your　brother；　after　all；
  what　would　you　say　then？〃　asked　the　Queen。
  〃Oh！　but　I　think　he　must　be；〃　said　Felicia。
  〃What！〃　said　the　Queen；　〃have　you　not　heard　that　you
  are　a　Princess？〃
  〃I　was　told　so　a　little　while　ago；　madam；　but　how　could
  I　believe　it　without　a　single　proof？〃
  〃Ah！　dear　child；〃　said　the　Queen；　〃the　way　you　speak
  assures　me　that；　in　spite　of　your　humble　upbringing；　you
  are　indeed　a　real　princess；　and　I　can　save　you　from　being
  treated　in　such　a　way　again。〃
  She　was　interrupted　at　this　moment　by　the　arrival　of
  a　very　handsome　young　man。　He　wore　a　coat　of　green
  velvet　fastened　with　emerald　clasps；　and　had　a　crown　of
  pinks　on　his　head。　He　knelt　upon　one　knee　and　kissed　the
  Queen's　hand。
  〃Ah！〃　she　cried；　〃my　pink；　my　dear　son；　what　a　happiness
  to　see　you　restored　to　your　natural　shape　by　Felicia's
  aid！〃　And　she　embraced　him　joyfully。　Then；　turning　to
  Felicia；　she　said：
  〃Charming　Princess；　I　know　all　the　hen　told　you；　but
  you　cannot　have　heard　that　the　zephyrs；　to　whom　was
  entrusted　the　task　of　carrying　my　son　to　the　tower　where
  the　Queen；　your　mother；　so　anxiously　waited　for　him；
  left　him　instead　in　a　garden　of　flowers；　while　they　flew
  off　to　tell　your　mother。　Whereupon　a　fairy　with　whom　I
  had　quarrelled　changed　him　into　a　pink；　and　I　could　do
  nothing　to　prevent　it。
  〃You　can　imagine　how　angry　I　was；　and　how　I　tried　to
  find　some　means　of　undoing　the　mischief　she　had　done；
  but　there　was　no　help　for　it。　I　could　only　bring　Prince
  Pink　to　the　place　where　you　were　being　brought　up；　hoping
  that　when　you　grew　up　he　might　love　you；　and　by
  your　care　be　restored　to　his　natural　form。　And　you　see
  everything　has　come　right；　as　I　hoped　it　would。　Your
  giving　me　the　silver　ring　was　the　sign　that　the　power　of
  the　charm　was　nearly　over；　and　my　enemy's　last　chance
  was　to　frighten　you　with　her　army　of　rats。　That　she　did
  not　succeed　in　doing；　so　now；　my　dear　Felicia；　if　you　will
  be　married　to　my　son　with　this　silver　ring　your　future
  happiness　is　certain。　Do　you　think　him　handsome　and
  amiable　enough　to　be　willing　to　marry　him？〃
  〃Madam；〃　replied　Felicia；　blushing；　〃you　overwhelm
  me　with　your　kindness。　I　know　that　you　are　my　mother's
  sister；　and　that　by　your　art　you　turned　the　soldiers　who
  were　sent　to　kill　me　into　cabbages；　and　my　nurse　into　a
  hen；　and　that　you　do　me　only　too　much　honor　in　proposing
  that　I　shall　marry　your　son。　How　can　I　explain　to　you
  the　cause　of　my　hesitation？　I　feel；　for　the　first　time　in　my
  life；　how　happy　it　would　make　me　to　be　beloved。　Can
  you　indeed　give　me　the　Prince's　heart？〃
  〃It　is　yours　already；　lovely　Princess！〃　he　cried；　taking
  her　hand　in　his；　〃but　for　the　horrible　enchantment　which
  kept　me　silent　I　should　have　told　you　long　ago　how　dearly
  I　love　you。
  This　made　the　Princess　very　happy；　and　the　Queen；
  who　could　not　bear　to　see　her　dressed　like　a　poor
  shepherdess；　touched　her　with　her　wand；　saying：
  〃I　wish　you　to　be　attired　as　befits　your　rank　and
  beauty。〃　And　immediately　the　Princess's　cotton　dress
  became　a　magnificent　robe　of　silver　brocade　embroidered
  with　carbuncles；　and　her　soft　dark　hair　was　encircled　by
  a　crown　of　diamonds；　from　which　floated　a　clear　white
  veil。　With　her　bright　eyes；　and　the　charming　color　in　her
  cheeks；　she　was　altogether　such　a　dazzling　sight　that　the
  Prince　could　hardly　bear　it。
  〃How　pretty　you　are；　Felicia！〃　he　cried。　〃Don't　keep
  me　in　suspense；　I　entreat　you；　say　that　you　will　marry
  me。〃
  〃Ah！〃　said　the　Queen；　smiling；　〃I　think　she　will　not
  refuse　now。〃
  Just　then　Bruno；　who　was　going　back　to　his　work；　came
  out　of　the　cottage；　and　thought　he　must　be　dreaming
  when　he　saw　Felicia；　but　she　called　him　very　kindly；　and
  begged　the　Queen　to　take　pity　on　him。
  〃What！〃　she　said；　〃when　he　was　so　unkind　to　you？〃
  〃Ah！　madam；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃I　am　so　happy　that
  I　should　like　everybody　else　to　be　happy　too。〃
  The　Queen　kissed　her；　and　said：　〃Well；　to　please　you；
  let　me　see　what　I　can　do　for　this　cross　Bruno。〃　And　with
  a　wave　of　her　wand　she　turned　the　poor　little　cottage　into
  a　splendid　palace；　full　of　treasures；　only　the　two　stools　and
  the　straw　bed　remained　just　as　they　were；　to　remind　him
  of　his　former　poverty。　Then　the　Queen　touched　Bruno
  himself；　and　made　him　gentle　and　polite　and　grateful；　and
  he　thanked　her　and　the　Princess　a　thousand　times。　Lastly；
  the　Queen　restored　the　hen　and　the　cabbages　to　their
  natural　forms；　and　left　them　all　very　contented。　The
  Prince　and　Princess　were　married　as　soon　as　possible　with
  great　splendor；　and　lived　happily　ever　after。＇1＇
  ＇1＇　Fortunee。　Par　Madame　la　Comtesse　d'Aulnoy。