that time that we are in any danger, for then we can neither foresee nor prevent misfortunes, and if we were killed we should never come to life again. The week ended, we return to our usual shapes, with renewed beauty, power and treasures. You now, my lord, can understand the obligations I am under to you. It is but just I should repay them. Think how I can be useful to you, and depend upon my friendship."
The young prince, who had never before held any communication with fairies, was so astonished, that it was some time before he could speak. But at length, making her a profound bow,—"Madam," said he, "after the honour I have enjoyed of being of service to you, it appears to me I have nothing more to desire of Fortune." "I shall be very sorry," replied she, "if you do not put me in the way of rendering you some service. Consider that I have the power to make you a great king, to prolong your life, to make you still more amiable, to give you mines full of diamonds and houses full of gold. I can make you an excellent orator, poet, musician and painter, the idol of the women; render your nature more ethereal, make you a spirit of air, water and earth."—Leander interrupted her at this point. "Permit me, Madam, to ask you," said he, "what advantage should I derive from becoming a spirit?" "It would enable you to do a thousand useful and agreeable things," replied the fairy. "You are invisible whenever you please, you traverse in an instant the vast expanse of the universe, you rise in the air without wings, you descend to the centre of the earth without dying, you plunge into the depths of the ocean without being drowned, you enter everywhere, though the windows and doors are fastened ever so carefully, and, at any moment you please, you re-appear in your natural form." "Ah, Madam!" exclaimed Leander, "I will be a spirit. I am about to travel; I can imagine an infinite number of pleasures to be enjoyed under such circumstances, and I prefer that gift to all the others which you have so generously offered me." "Be a spirit, then," replied Gentille, passing her hand three times over his eyes and face. "Be a beloved spirit, an amiable spirit, and a frolicksome spirit." She then embraced him, and gave him a little red hat ornamented with two parrot's feathers. "When you put on this cap," continued she, "you will be invisible; when you take it off you appear again." Leander, enraptured,
