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may be very sure that I shouldn't have thought of going
there。〃
It made her shiver with fright to hear the cabbage talk；
but he went on：
〃If you will be good enough to plant me by my
comrades again； I can tell you where your pinks are at this
momenthidden in Bruno's bed！〃
Felicia was in despair when she heard this； not knowing
how she was to get them back。 But she replanted the
cabbage very kindly in his old place； and； as she finished
doing it； she saw Bruno's hen； and said； catching hold of it：
〃Come here； horrid little creature！ you shall suffer for
all the unkind things my brother has done to me。〃
〃Ah！ shepherdess；〃 said the hen； 〃don't kill me； I am
rather a gossip； and I can tell you some surprising things
that you will like to hear。 Don't imagine that you are
the daughter of the poor laborer who brought you up；
your mother was a queen who had six girls already； and
the King threatened that unless she had a son who could
inherit his kingdom she should have her head cut off。
〃So when the Queen had another little daughter she
was quite frightened； and agreed with her sister （who was
a fairy） to exchange her for the fairy's little son。 Now the
Queen had been shut up in a great tower by the King's
orders； and when a great many days went by and still she
heard nothing from the Fairy she made her escape from
the window by means of a rope ladder； taking her little
baby with her。 After wandering about until she was half
dead with cold and fatigue she reached this cottage。 I
was the laborer's wife； and was a good nurse； and the
Queen gave you into my charge； and told me all her
misfortunes； and then died before she had time to say what
was to become of you。
〃As I never in all my life could keep a secret； I could
not help telling this strange tale to my neighbors； and one
day a beautiful lady came here； and I told it to her also。
When I had finished she touched me with a wand she
held in her hand； and instantly I became a hen； and there
was an end of my talking！ I was very sad； and my husband；
who was out when it happened； never knew what
had become of me。 After seeking me everywhere he
believed that I must have been drowned； or eaten up by
wild beasts in the forest。 That same lady came here once
more； and commanded that you should be called Felicia；
and left the ring and the pot of pinks to be given to you；
and while she was in the house twenty…five of the King's
guards came to search for you； doubtless meaning to kill
you； but she muttered a few words； and immediately they
all turned into cabbages。 It was one of them whom you
threw out of your window yesterday。
〃I don't know how it was that he could speakI have
never heard either of them say a word before； nor have
I been able to do it myself until now。〃
The Princess was greatly astonished at the hen's story；
and said kindly： 〃I am truly sorry for you； my poor nurse；
and wish it was in my power to restore you to your real
form。 But we must not despair； it seems to me； after
what you have told me； that something must be going
to happen soon。 Just now； however； I must go and look
for my pinks； which I love better than anything in the
world。〃
Bruno had gone out into the forest； never thinking that
Felicia would search in his room for the pinks； and she
was delighted by his unexpected absence； and thought to
get them back without further trouble。 But as soon as
she entered the room she saw a terrible army of rats； who
were guarding the straw bed； and when she attempted to
approach it they sprang at her； biting and scratching
furiously。 Quite terrified； she drew back； crying out：
〃Oh！ my dear pinks； how can you stay here in such bad
company？〃
Then she suddenly bethought herself of the pitcher of
water； and； hoping that it might have some magic power；
she ran to fetch it； and sprinkled a few drops over the
fierce…looking swarm of rats。 In a moment not a tail or a
whisker was to be seen。 Each one had made for his hole as
fast as his legs could carry him； so that the Princess could
safely take her pot of pinks。 She found them nearly dying
for want of water； and hastily poured all that was left in
the pitcher upon them。 As she bent over them； enjoying
their delicious scent； a soft voice； that seemed to rustle
among the leaves； said：
〃Lovely Felicia； the day has come at last when I may
have the happiness of telling you how even the flowers
love you and rejoice in your beauty。
The Princess； quite overcome by the strangeness of
hearing a cabbage； a hen； and a pink speak； and by the
terrible sight of an army of rats； suddenly became very
pale； and fainted away。
At this moment in came Bruno。 Working hard in the
heat had not improved his temper； and when he saw that
Felicia had succeeded in finding her pinks he was so angry
that he dragged her out into the garden and shut the door
upon her。 The fresh air soon made her open her pretty
eyes； and there before her stood the Queen of the Woods；
looking as charming as ever。
〃You have a bad brother；〃she said； 〃I saw
he turned you out。 Shall I punish him for it？〃
〃Ah！ no； madam；〃 she said； 〃I am not angry with
him。
〃But supposing he was not your brother； after all；
what would you say then？〃 asked the Queen。
〃Oh！ but I think he must be；〃 said Felicia。
〃What！〃 said the Queen； 〃have you not heard that you
are a Princess？〃
〃I was told so a little while ago； madam； but how could
I believe it without a single proof？〃
〃Ah！ dear child；〃 said the Queen； 〃the way you speak
assures me that； in spite of your humble upbringing； you
are indeed a real princess； and I can save you from being
treated in such a way again。〃
She was interrupted at this moment by the arrival of
a very handsome young man。 He wore a coat of green
velvet fastened with emerald clasps； and had a crown of
pinks on his head。 He knelt upon one knee and kissed the
Queen's hand。
〃Ah！〃 she cried； 〃my pink； my dear son； what a happiness
to see you restored to your natural shape by Felicia's
aid！〃 And she embraced him joyfully。 Then； turning to
Felicia； she said：
〃Charming Princess； I know all the hen told you； but
you cannot have heard that the zephyrs； to whom was
entrusted the task of carrying my son to the tower where
the Queen； your mother； so anxiously waited for him；
left him instead in a garden of flowers； while they flew
off to tell your mother。 Whereupon a fairy with whom I
had quarrelled changed him into a pink； and I could do
nothing to prevent it。
〃You can imagine how angry I was； and how I tried to
find some means of undoing the mischief she had done；
but there was no help for it。 I could only bring Prince
Pink to the place where you were being brought up； hoping
that when you grew up he might love you； and by
your care be restored to his natural form。 And you see
everything has come right； as I h