a time coming when her daughter would be very happy. "But," interrupted the Queen, "will she become beautiful again?" "We cannot give you any further information," replied the fairies. "Be satisfied, Madam, with the assurance that your daughter will be happy." She thanked them very much, and did not neglect loading them with presents; for, although the fairies were very rich, they always liked people to give them something; and the custom has descended from that day to this, through all the nations of the earth, without time having had the least effect upon it.
The Queen named her eldest daughter Laidronette, and the youngest Bellotte. These names suited them perfectly; for Laidronette became so frightful, that, in spite of all her intelligence, it was not possible to look at her; while her sister's beauty increased hourly, and her appearance was altogether charming. The consequence was, that Laidronette, having arrived at twelve years of age, went and threw herself at the feet of the King and Queen, and implored them to permit her to go and shut herself up in the Lonely Castlel that she might afflict them no longer with the contemplation of her ugliness. As, notwithstanding her hideous appearance, they could not help being fond of her, it was not without some pain they consented to let her depart; but Bellotte remained with them, and that was a sufficient consolation.
Laidronette beseeched the Queen to send nobody with her, but her nurse and a few officers to wait on her. "You need not be under any apprehension, Madam, of my being run away with," said she; "and I can assure you that, being what I am, I would willingly avoid even the light of day." The King and Queen acceded to her wishes, and she was conducted to the Castle she had chosen to reside in. It had been built many ages. The sea came in close under its windows, and served it for a canal. There was a large forest in the vicinity, to walk or ride in, and several meadows terminated the prospect. The Princess played various instruments, and sang divinely. She passed two years in this agreeable solitude, and even wrote in it some volumes of reflections; but the desire to see the King and Queen again induced her to take coach and revisit the Court. She arrived just as they were about to celebrate the marriage of Bellotte.
