meadow, and into the meadow again when she entered the wood. "O thoughtless curiosity!" said Gracieuse, weeping, "thou wilt be too favourable to my enemy. The only misfortune I could have avoided has been brought on me by my own folly. Oh, I cannot sufficiently blame myself! Percinet!" she cried, "Percinet! If it be possible you can still love such an imprudent princess, come and help me in this, the most unfortunate occurrence in my life!" Percinet did not wait to be called thrice. She saw him appear instantly in his splendid green dress. "If it were not for the wicked Grognon," said he, "beautiful princess, you would never think of me." "Oh, think better of my sentiments," she replied; "I am not so insensible to merit, nor so ungrateful for benefits conferred on me. It is true I try your constancy; but it is to reward it when I am convinced." Percinet, more happy than he had ever been before, tapped the box thrice with his wand, and immediately the little men and women, fiddlers, cooks, and roast-meat, were all packed into it as neatly as if they had never been out of it. Percinet had left his chariot in the wood. He begged the princess to make use of it to go to the rich château. She had much need of the carriage in the state she was in, so making her invisible, he drove her himself and enjoyed the pleasure of her company,—a pleasure which my chronicle asserts she was not indifferent to at the bottom of her heart; but she carefully concealed her sentiments.
She arrived at the rich château, and when she demanded in the name of Grognon to be shown into the queen's closet, the governor burst into a fit of laughter. "What," said he, "do you imagine that you are to leave your sheep to be admitted into so beautiful a place? Be off with you wherever you like; never did wooden shoes tread those floors." Gracieuse begged him to write a line stating his refusal. He did so, and quitting the rich château she found the amiable Percinet awaiting her, who drove her back to the palace. It would be difficult to write down all the tender and respectful things he said to her on the road in the hope of persuading her to put an end to his unhappiness. She promised him that if Grognon played her another wicked trick she would consent.
When her vile stepmother saw her return she flew at the Fairy, whom she had detained, and scratched, and would have
