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‘No； indeed； nothing should make me marry you； in fact； I
don't think I shall ever love anyone；' cried the Princess。
‘In that case；' said the Enchanter； touching her； ‘you had
better become a particular kind of creature that is neither fish nor
fowl； you shall be light and airy； and as green as the grass you live
in。 Off with you； Madam Grasshopper。' And the Princess； rejoicing
to find herself free once more； skipped out into the garden； the
prettiest little green Grasshopper in the world。 But as soon as she
was safely out she began to be rather sorry for herself。
‘Ah！ Florimond；' she sighed； ‘is this the end of your gift？
Certainly beauty is short…lived； and this funny little face and a green
crape dress are a comical end to it。 I had better have married my
amiable shepherd。 It must be for my pride that I am condemned
to be a Grasshopper； and sing day and night in the grass by this
brook； when I feel far more inclined to cry。'
In the meantime Prince Peerless had discovered the Princess's
absence； and was lamenting over it by the river's brim； when he
suddenly became aware of the presence of a little old woman。 She
was quaintly dressed in a ruff and farthingale； and a velvet hood
covered her snow…white hair。
‘You seem sorrowful； my son；' she said。 ‘What is the matter？'
‘Alas！ mother；' answered the Prince； ‘I have lost my sweet
shepherdess； but I am determined to find her again； though I should
have to traverse the whole world in search of her。'
‘Go that way； my son；' said the old woman； pointing towards the
path that led to the castle。 ‘I have an idea that you will soon
overtake her。'
The Prince thanked her heartily and set out。 As he met with
no hindrance； he soon reached the enchanted wood which surrounded
the castle； and there he thought he saw the Princess Sunbeam
gliding before him among the trees。 Prince Peerless hastened
after her at the top of his speed； but could not get any nearer；
then he called to her：
‘Sunbeam； my darlingonly wait for me a moment。'
But the phantom did but fly the faster； and the Prince spent
the whole day in this vain pursuit。 When night came he saw
the castle before him all lighted up； and as he imagined that the
Princess must be in it； he made haste to get there too。 He entered
without difficulty； and in the hall the terrible old Fairy met him。
She was so thin that the light shone through her； and her eyes
glowed like lamps； her skin was like a shark's； her arms were thin
as laths； and her fingers like spindles。 Nevertheless she wore
rouge and patches； a mantle of silver brocade and a crown of
diamonds； and her dress was covered with jewels； and green and
pink ribbons。
‘At last you have come to see me； Prince；' said she。 ‘Don't
waste another thought upon that little shepherdess； who is
unworthy of your notice。 I am the Queen of the Comets； and can
bring you to great honour if you will marry me。'
‘Marry you； Madam；' cried the Prince； in horror。 ‘No； I will
never consent to that。'
Thereupon the Fairy； in a rage； gave two strokes of her wand
and filled the gallery with horrible goblins； against whom the
Prince had to fight for his life。 Though he had only his dagger； he
defended himself so well that he escaped without any harm； and
presently the old Fairy stopped the fray and asked the Prince if
he was still of the same mind。 When he answered firmly that he
was； she called up the appearance of the Princess Sunbeam to the
other end of the gallery； and said：
‘You see your beloved there？ Take care what you are about；
for if you again refuse to marry me she shall be torn in pieces by
two tigers。'
The Prince was distracted； for he fancied he heard his dear
shepherdess weeping and begging him to save her。 In despair he
cried：
‘Oh； Fairy Douceline； have you abandoned me after so many
promises of friendship？ Help； help us now！'
Immediately a soft voice said in his ear：
‘Be firm； happen what may； and seek the Golden Branch。'
Thus encouraged； the Prince persevered in his refusal； and at
length the old Fairy in a fury cried：
‘Get out of my sight； obstinate Prince。 Become a Cricket！'
And instantly the handsome Prince Peerless became a poor little
black Cricket； whose only idea would have been to find himself a
cosy cranny behind some blazing hearth； if he had not luckily
remembered the Fairy Douceline's injunction to seek the Golden Branch。
So he hastened to depart from the fatal castle； and sought shelter
in a hollow tree； where he found a forlorn looking little Grasshopper
crouching in a corner； too miserable to sing。
Without in the least expecting an answer； the Prince asked it：
‘And where may you be going； Gammer Grasshopper？'
‘Where are you going yourself； Gaffer Cricket？' replied the Grasshopper。
‘What！ can you speak？' said he。
‘Why should I not speak as well as you？ Isn't a Grasshopper
as good as a Cricket？' said she。
‘I can talk because I was a Prince；' said the Cricket。
‘And for that very same reason I ought to be able to talk more
than you； for I was a Princess；' replied the Grasshopper。
‘Then you have met with the same fate as I have；' said he。 ‘But
where are you going now？ Cannot we journey together？'
‘I seemed to hear a voice in the air which said： ‘‘Be firm；
happen what may； and seek the Golden Branch；'' ' answered the
Grasshopper； ‘and I thought the command must be for me； so I
started at once； though I don't know the way。'
At this moment their conversation was interrupted by two mice；
who； breathless from running； flung themselves headlong through
the hole into the tree； nearly crushing the Grasshopper and the
Cricket； though they got out of the way as fast as they could and
stood up in a dark corner。
‘Ah； Madam；' said the fatter of the two； ‘I have such a pain in
my side from running so fast。 How does your Highness find yourself？'
‘I have pulled my tail off；' replied the younger Mouse； ‘but as I
should still be on the sorcerer's table unless I had； I do not regret
it。 Are we pursued； think you？ How lucky we were to escape！'
‘I only trust that we may escape cats and traps； and reach the
Golden Branch soon；' said the fat Mouse。
‘You know the way then？' said the other。
‘Oh dear； yes！ as well as the way to my own house； Madam。
This Golden Branch is indeed a marvel； a single leaf from it makes
one rich for ever。 It breaks enchantments； and makes all who
approach it young and beautiful。 We must set out for it at the
break of day。'
‘May we have the honour of travelling with youthis respectable
Cricket and myself？' said the Grasshopper； stepping forward。
‘We also are on a pilgrimage to the Golden Branch。'
The Mice courteously assented； and after many polite speeches
the whole party fell asleep。 With the earliest dawn they were on
their way； and though the Mice were in constant fear of being
overtaken or