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shall； without further delay； receive the crown； for my
successor must certainly be married。〃 The Prince considered
that he had earned the kingdom fairly twice over
but still he was too well bred to argue about it； so he
just went back to his gorgeous chariot； and； surrounded
by his escort； returned to the White Cat faster than he
had come。 This time she was expecting him； the path was
strewn with flowers； and a thousand braziers were burning
scented woods which perfumed the air。 Seated in a gallery
from which she could see his arrival； the White Cat waited
for him。 〃Well； King's son；〃 she said； 〃here you are once
more； without a crown。〃 〃Madam；〃 said he； 〃thanks to
your generosity I have earned one twice over； but the
fact is that my father is so loth to part with it that it would
be no pleasure to me to take it。〃
〃Never mind；〃 she answered； 〃it's just as well to try
and deserve it。 As you must take back a lovely princess
with you next time I will be on the look…out for one for
you。 In the meantime let us enjoy ourselves； to…night I
have ordered a battle between my cats and the river rats
on purpose to amuse you。〃 So this year slipped away
even more pleasantly than the preceding ones。 Sometimes
the Prince could not help asking the White Cat how
it was she could talk。
〃Perhaps you are a fairy；〃 he said。 〃Or has some
enchanter changed you into a cat？〃
But she only gave him answers that told him nothing。
Days go by so quickly when one is very happy that it is
certain the Prince would never have thought of its being
time to go back； when one evening as they sat together
the White Cat said to him that if he wanted to take a
lovely princess home with him the next day he must be
prepared to do what she told him。
〃Take this sword；〃 she said； 〃and cut off my head！〃
〃I！〃 cried the Prince； 〃I cut off your head！ Blanchette
darling； how could I do it？〃
〃I entreat you to do as I tell you； King's son；〃 she
replied。
The tears came into the Prince's eyes as he begged her
to ask him anything but thatto set him any task she
pleased as a proof of his devotion； but to spare him the
grief of killing his dear Pussy。 But nothing he could say
altered her determination； and at last he drew his sword；
and desperately； with a trembling hand； cut off the little
white head。 But imagine his astonishment and delight
when suddenly a lovely princess stood before him； and；
while he was still speechless with amazement； the door
opened and a goodly company of knights and ladies
entered； each carrying a cat's skin！ They hastened with
every sign of joy to the Princess； kissing her hand and
congratulating her on being once more restored to her
natural shape。 She received them graciously； but after a
few minutes begged that they would leave her alone with
the Prince； to whom she said：
〃You see； Prince； that you were right in supposing me
to be no ordinary cat。 My father reigned over six
kingdoms。 The Queen； my mother； whom he loved dearly；
had a passion for traveling and exploring； and when I was
only a few weeks old she obtained his permission to visit
a certain mountain of which she had heard many marvelous
tales； and set out； taking with her a number of her
attendants。 On the way they had to pass near an old
castle belonging to the fairies。 Nobody had ever been
into it； but it was reported to be full of the most wonderful
things； and my mother remembered to have heard that
the fairies had in their garden such fruits as were to be
seen and tasted nowhere else。 She began to wish to try
them for herself； and turned her steps in the direction of
the garden。 On arriving at the door； which blazed with
gold and jewels； she ordered her servants to knock loudly；
but it was useless； it seemed as if all the inhabitants of the
castle must be asleep or dead。 Now the more difficult it
became to obtain the fruit； the more the Queen was
determined that have it she would。 So she ordered that they
should bring ladders； and get over the wall into the garden；
but though the wall did not look very high； and they tied
the ladders together to make them very long； it was quite
impossible to get to the top。
〃The Queen was in despair； but as night was coming on
she ordered that they should encamp just where they
were； and went to bed herself； feeling quite ill； she was so
disappointed。 In the middle of the night she was suddenly
awakened； and saw to her surprise a tiny； ugly old
woman seated by her bedside； who said to her：
〃‘I must say that we consider it somewhat troublesome
of your Majesty to insist upon tasting our fruit； but
to save you annoyance； my sisters and I will consent to
give you as much as you can carry away； on one condition
that is； that you shall give us your little daughter to
bring up as our own。'
〃‘Ah！ my dear madam；' cried the Queen； ‘is there nothing
else that you will take for the fruit？ I will give you
my kingdoms willingly。'
〃‘No；' replied the old fairy； ‘we will have nothing but
your little daughter。 She shall be as happy as the day is
long； and we will give her everything that is worth having
in fairy…land； but you must not see her again until she is
married。'
〃‘Though it is a hard condition；' said the Queen； ‘I
consent； for I shall certainly die if I do not taste the fruit；
and so I should lose my little daughter either way。'
〃So the old fairy led her into the castle； and； though it
was still the middle of the night； the Queen could see
plainly that it was far more beautiful than she had been
told； which you can easily believe； Prince；〃 said the
White Cat； 〃when I tell you that it was this castle that
we are now in。 ‘Will you gather the fruit yourself；
Queen？' said the old fairy； ‘or shall I call it to come to
you？'
〃‘I beg you to let me see it come when it is called；'
cried the Queen； ‘that will be something quite new。' The
old fairy whistled twice； then she cried：
〃‘Apricots； peaches； nectarines； cherries； plums； pears；
melons； grapes； apples； oranges； lemons； gooseberries；
strawberries； raspberries； come！'
〃And in an instant they came tumbling in one over
another； and yet they were neither dusty nor spoilt； and
the Queen found them quite as good as she had fancied
them。 You see they grew upon fairy trees。
〃The old fairy gave her golden baskets in which to take
the fruit away； and it was as much as four hundred mules
could carry。 Then she reminded the Queen of her agreement；
and led her back to the camp； and next morning
she went back to her kingdom； but before she had gone
very far she began to repent of her bargain； and when the
King came out to meet her she looked so sad that he
guessed that something had happened； and asked what
was the matter。 At first the Queen was afraid to tell him；
but when； as soon as they reached the palace； five frightful
little dwarfs were sent by the fairies to fetch me； she
w