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thick forest at least a hundred leagues away from it。 And there
we must leave him for the present； and see what was happening
elsewhere。
When the guards found that the Prince did not ask for his supper
as usual； they went into his room； and not finding him there； were
very much alarmed； and searched the tower from turret to dungeon；
but without success。 Knowing that the King would certainly have
their heads cut off for allowing the Prince to escape； they then
agreed to say that he was ill； and after making the smallest among
them look as much like Prince Curlicue as possible； they put him
into his bed and sent to inform the King。
King Grumpy was quite delighted to hear that his son was ill；
for he thought that he would all the sooner be brought to do as he
wished； and marry the Princess。 So he sent back to the guards to
say that the Prince was to be treated as severely as before； which
was just what they had hoped he would say。 In the meantime the
Princess Cabbage…Stalk had reached the palace； travelling in a litter。
King Grumpy went out to meet her； but when he saw her； with
a skin like a tortoise's； her thick eyebrows meeting above her large
nose； and her mouth from ear to ear； he could not help crying out：
‘Well； I must say Curlicue is ugly enough； but I don't think
YOU need have thought twice before consenting to marry him。'
‘Sire；' she replied； ‘I know too well what I am like to be hurt
by what you say； but I assure you that I have no wish to marry
your son I had rather be called Princess Cabbage…Stalk than Queen
Curlicue。'
This made King Grumpy very angry。
‘Your father has sent you here to marry my son；' he said； ‘and
you may be sure that I am not going to offend him by altering his
arrangements。' So the poor Princess was sent away in disgrace to
her own apartments； and the ladies who attended upon her were
charged to bring her to a better mind。
At this juncture the guards； who were in great fear that they
would be found out； sent to tell the King that his son was dead；
which annoyed him very much。 He at once made up his mind
that it was entirely the Princess's fault； and gave orders that she
should be imprisoned in the tower in Prince Curlicue's place。 The
Princess Cabbage…Stalk was immensely astonished at this unjust
proceeding； and sent many messages of remonstrance to King
Grumpy； but he was in such a temper that no one dared to deliver
them； or to send the letters which the Princess wrote to her father。
However； as she did not know this； she lived in hope of soon going
back to her own country； and tried to amuse herself as well as
she could until the time should come。 Every day she walked up
and down the long gallery； until she too was attracted and fascinated
by the ever…changing pictures in the windows； and recognised herself
in one of the figures。 ‘They seem to have taken a great delight in
painting me since I came to this country；' she said to herself。 ‘One
would think that I and my crutch were put in on purpose to make
that slim； charming young shepherdess in the next picture look
prettier by contrast。 Ah！ how nice it would be to be as pretty as
that。' And then she looked at herself in a mirror； and turned away
quickly with tears in her eyes from the doleful sight。 All at once
she became aware that she was not alone； for behind her stood a
tiny old woman in a cap； who was as ugly again as herself and
quite as lame。
‘Princess；' she said； ‘your regrets are so piteous that I have
come to offer you the choice of goodness or beauty。 If you wish to
be pretty you shall have your way； but you will also be vain；
capricious； and frivolous。 If you remain as you are now； you shall
be wise and amiable and modest。'
‘Alas I madam；' cried the Princess； ‘is it impossible to be at once
wise and beautiful？'
‘No； child；' answered the old woman； ‘only to you it is decreed
that you must choose between the two。 See； I have brought with
me my white and yellow muff。 Breathe upon the yellow side and
you will become like the pretty shepherdess you so much admire； and
you will have won the love of the handsome shepherd whose picture
I have already seen you studying with interest。 Breathe upon the
white side and your looks will not alter； but you will grow better
and happier day by day。 Now you may choose。'
‘Ah well；' said the Princess； ‘I suppose one can't have
everything； and it's certainly better to be good than pretty。'
And so she breathed upon the white side of the muff and thanked
the old fairy； who immediately disappeared。 The Princess Cabbage…
Stalk felt very forlorn when she was gone； and began to think that
it was quite time her father sent an army to rescue her。
‘If I could but get up into the turret；' she thought； ‘to see if any
one is coming。' But to climb up there seemed impossible。 Nevertheless
she presently hit upon a plan。 The great clock was in the
turret； as she knew； though the weights hung down into the gallery。
Taking one of them off the rope； she tied herself on in its place； and
when the clock was wound； up she went triumphantly into the
turret。 She looked out over the country the first thing； but seeing
nothing she sat down to rest a little； and accidentally leant back
against the wall which Curlicue； or rather Prince Peerless； had so
hastily mended。 Out fell the broken stone； and with it the golden
key。 The clatter it made upon the floor attracted the Princess
Cabbage…Stalk's attention。
She picked it up； and after a moment's consideration decided
that it must belong to the curious old cabinet in the corner； which
had no visible keyhole。 And then it was not long before she had it
open； and was admiring the treasures it contained as much as Prince
Peerless had done before her； and at last she came to the carbuncle
box。 No sooner had she opened it than with a shudder of horror
she tried to throw it down； but found that some mysterious power
compelled her to hold it against her will。 And at this moment a
voice in her ear said softly：
‘Take courage； Princess； upon this adventure your future happiness
depends。'
‘What am I to do？' said the Princess trembling。
‘Take the box；' replied the voice； ‘and hide it under your pillow；
and when you see an Eagle； give it to him without losing a moment。'
Terrified as the Princess was； she did not hesitate to obey； and
hastened to put back all the other precious things precisely as she
had found them。 By this time her guards were seeking her everywhere；
and they were amazed to find her up in the turret； for they
said she could only have got there by magic。 For three days nothing
happened； but at last in the night the Princess heard something
flutter against her window； and drawing back her curtains she saw
in the moonlight that it was an Eagle。
Limping across at her utmost speed she threw the window open；
and the great Eagle sailed in beating with his wings for joy。 The
Princ