not to cry: that he had come to take her out of the tower, and conduct her to a fine château. The prince had his pockets full of sweetmeats, which he gave to Rosette, saying to her, "Come, let us quit this vile dungeon. The king will soon find a husband for you; don't afflict yourself any longer."
When Rosette saw the beautiful garden, all full of flowers, fruits, and fountains, she was so astonished that she could not utter a word, for she had never seen anything of the sort before. She gazed eagerly about her, now walking, now stopping, now gathering fruit from the trees, or flowers from their beds. Her little dog, named Fretillon, who was as green as a parrot, had but one ear, and danced to perfection, ran before her, bow-wow-wowing with a thousand jumps and capers. Fretillon amused the company amazingly. All on a sudden he ran into a little wood. The princess followed him, and never was any one so astonished as she was at seeing in this wood a great peacock with his tail spread, and looking so beautiful, so beautiful—so beautiful, that she could not take her eyes off him!
The king and the prince rejoined her, and inquired what she was amusing herself with. She pointed the peacock out to them, and asked them what it was. They told her it was a bird that was occasionally eaten. "What!" she exclaimed, "do they dare to kill such a beautiful bird and eat it?—I declare to you that I will never marry any one but the King of the Peacocks, and when I am queen I will take good care that none shall be eaten." Nobody can describe the astonishment of the king. "But, Sister," said he, "where would you that we should find the King of the Peacocks?" "Wherever you please, Sire, but I will marry nobody else."
After she had made this resolution, the two brothers conducted her to their château, whither they were obliged to bring the peacock also, and place it in her apartment, for she was exceedingly fond of it. All the ladies, who had never seen Rosette, hastened to salute her and pay their court to her. Some brought her preserves, others sugar, others dresses of gold stuffs, beautiful ribbons, dolls, embroidered shoes, pearls and diamonds. She was entertained everywhere, and she was so well bred, so polite, kissing hands, &c., and curtsying when any pretty thing was given to her, that not a gentleman or lady left her dissatisfied with their reception.
