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VIII
Everything the Princess saw was new to her； and in passing
through mountains； valleys； and towns； she asked a thousand
questions。 Desire was charmed to answer them。 It is so delightful
to teach those one loves！
Once she inquired what the girls in his country were like。
‘They are pink and white；' he replied； ‘and their eyes are blue。'
‘Do you like blue eyes？' said the Princess； but Desire thought
it was a good opportunity to find out what was in her heart； so he
did not answer。
‘And no doubt；' went on the Princess； ‘one of them is your
intended bride？'
Still he was silent； and Zizi drew herself up proudly。
‘No；' he said at last。 ‘None of the girls of my own country
are beautiful in my eyes； and that is why I came to look for a wife
in the land of the sun。 Was I wrong； my lovely Zizi？'
This time it was Zizi's turn to be silent。
IX
Talking in this way they drew near to the castle。 When they
were about four stone…throws from the gates they dismounted in
the forest； by the edge of a fountain。
‘My dear Zizi；' said Tubby's son； ‘we cannot present ourselves
before my father like two common people who have come back
from a walk。 We must enter the castle with more ceremony。
Wait for me here； and in an hour I will return with carriages and
horses fit for a princess。'
‘Don't be long；' replied Zizi； and she watched him go with
wistful eyes。
When she was left by herself the poor girl began to feel afraid。
She was alone for the first time in her life； and in the middle of a
thick forest。
Suddenly she heard a noise among the trees。 Fearing lest it
should be a wolf； she hid herself in the hollow trunk of a willow
tree which hung over the fountain。 It was big enough to hold
her altogether； but she peeped out； and her pretty head was
reflected in the clear water。
Then there appeared； not a wolf； but a creature quite as wicked
and quite as ugly。 Let us see who this creature was。
X
Not far from the fountain there lived a family of bricklayers。
Now； fifteen years before this time； the father in walking through
the forest found a little girl； who had been deserted by the gypsies。
He carried her home to his wife； and the good woman was sorry
for her； and brought her up with her own sons。 As she grew
older； the little gypsy became much more remarkable for strength
and cunning than for sense or beauty。 She had a low forehead；
a flat nose； thick lips； coarse hair； and a skin not golden like that
of Zizi； but the colour of clay。
As she was always being teased about her complexion； she got
as noisy and cross as a titmouse。 So they used to call her Titty。
Titty was often sent by the bricklayer to fetch water from the
fountain； and as she was very proud and lazy the gypsy disliked
this very much。
It was she who had frightened Zizi by appearing with her
pitcher on her shoulder。 Just as she was stooping to fill it； she
saw reflected in the water the lovely image of the Princess。
‘What a pretty face！' she exclaimed； ‘Why； it must be
mine！ How in the world can they call me ugly？ I am certainly
much too pretty to be their water carrier！'
So saying； she broke her pitcher and went home。
‘Where is your pitcher？' asked the bricklayer。
‘Well； what do you expect？ The pitcher may go many times
to the well。 。 。 。'
‘But at last it is broken。 Well； here is a bucket that will not
break。'
The gypsy returned to the fountain； and addressing once more
the image of Zizi； she said：
‘No； I don't mean to be a beast of burden any longer。' And
she flung the bucket so high in the air that it stuck in the branches
of an oak。
‘I met a wolf；' she told the bricklayer； ‘and I broke the bucket
across his nose。'
The bricklayer asked her no more questions； but took down a
broom and gave her such a beating that her pride was humbled
a little。
Then he handed to her an old copper milk…can； and said：
‘If you don't bring it back full； your bones shall suffer for it。'
XI
Titty went off rubbing her sides； but this time she did not dare
to disobey； and in a very bad temper stooped down over the well。
It was not at all easy to fill the milk…can； which was large and
round。 It would not go down into the well； and the gypsy had to
try again and again。
At last her arms grew so tired that when she did manage to get
the can properly under the water she had no strength to pull it up；
and it rolled to the bottom。
On seeing the can disappear； she made such a miserable face
that Zizi； who had been watching her all this time； burst into fits of
laughter。
Titty turned round and perceived the mistake she had made；
and she felt so angry that she made up her mind to be revenged at
once。
‘What are you doing there； you lovely creature？' she said to
Zizi。
‘I am waiting for my lover；' Zizi replied； and then； with a
simplicity quite natural in a girl who so lately had been a canary；
she told all her story。
The gypsy had often seen the young Prince pass by； with his
gun on his shoulder； when he was going after crows。 She was too
ugly and ragged for him ever to have noticed her； but Titty on her
side had admired him； though she thought he might well have been
a little fatter。
‘Dear； dear！' she said to herself。 ‘So he likes yellow women！
Why； I am yellow too； and if I could only think of a way'
It was not long before she did think of it。
‘What！' cried the sly Titty； ‘they are coming with great pomp
to fetch you； and you are not afraid to show yourself to so many
fine lords and ladies with your hair down like that？ Get down at
once； my poor child； and let me dress your hair for you！'
The innocent Zizi came down at once； and stood by Titty。 The
gypsy began to comb her long brown locks； when suddenly she drew
a pin from her stays； and； just as the titmouse digs its beak into
the heads of linnets and larks； Titty dug the pin into the head of
Zizi。
No sooner did Zizi feel the prick of the pin than she became a
bird again； and； spreading her wings； she flew away。
‘That was neatly done；' said the gypsy。 ‘The Prince will be
clever if he finds his bride。' And； arranging her dress； she seated
herself on the grass to await Desire。
XII
Meanwhile the Prince was coming as fast as his horse could
carry him。 He was so impatient that he was always full fifty
yards in front of the lords and ladies sent by Tubby to bring back
Zizi。
At the sight of the hideous gypsy he was struck dumb with
surprise and horror。
‘Ah me！' said Titty； ‘so you don't know your poor Zizi？
While you were away the wicked witch came； and turned me into
this。 But if you only have the courage to marry me I shall get
back my beauty。' And she began to cry bitterly。
Now the good…natured Desire was as soft…hearted as he was brave。
‘Poor girl；'