physicians saw plainly that she was being destroyed by a deep melancholy; her brothers loved her dearly; they asked her the reason of her illness; she acknowledged that she reproached herself night and day, with being the cause of Cheri's absence, and that she felt she should die if she did not hear some tidings of him. They were affected by her tears; and in the hopes of curing her, Petit-Soleil resolved to seek his brother.
The Prince set out; he ascertained where this famed bird was to be found; he flew there; he saw it—he approached it, with the same hopes as the others had done—at the same moment was swallowed up by the rock; he fell into the great hall; the first person he saw was Cheri, but he could not speak to him.
Belle-Etoile recovered her health a little; each moment she hoped to see her two brothers return, but her hopes disappointed, her distress was renewed—night and day she never ceased lamenting; she accused herself of her brothers' misfortunes; and Prince Heureux, having no less pity for her than anxiety about his brothers, resolved in his turn to go and seek them. He acquainted Belle-Etoile with his intention; at first she opposed it, but he told her it was but just that he should encounter any peril in trying to find those he so dearly loved,—thereupon he departed, having taken the most affectionate farewell of the Princess; she remained alone, a prey to the deepest sorrow.
When Feintise was aware that the third prince was gone, she was exceedingly delighted; she told the Queen-Mother of it, and promised her, more confidently than ever, that she would destroy the whole of this unfortunate family! Heureux shared the same fate as Cheri and Petit-Soleil,—he found the rock, he saw the bird, he fell like a statue into the hall, where he recognised the princes he was seeking without being able to speak to them; they were all arranged in crystal niches; they never slept, they never ate, but remained in a miserable state of enchantment, for they were only at liberty to think upon, and in silence deplore, their fate.
Belle-Etoile, inconsolable at finding not one of her brothers return, reproached herself for having so long delayed to follow them. Without further hesitation she gave orders to all her household to wait for six months, when, if neither
