d it
was for her beauty that Zora hated her more than for any thing else.

In childhood Zora had been very fair; and the courtiers had petted
her, and pronounced her even fairer than the princess; but her beauty
had never meant any thing but bright eyes and cherry cheeks: so it
could not last. If she had only cherished pure thoughts and kind
wishes, she might still have been as lovely as Hilda; but who does not
know that evil feelings write themselves on the face?

Jealousy had pulled her mouth down at the corners; deceit had given it
a foolish smirk; spite had plowed an ugly frown in her brow; while she
had tried so many arts to make her rich brown skin as delicately white
as Hilda's, that it was changed to the tint of chrome yellow.

It was said in those days, that Zora was in the power of wicked
fairies, who twisted her features into the shape that pleased them
best.

At any rate, how the amiable Princess Hilda was to blame for all
these deformities it would be hard to say; and she little dreamed of
the malice in her cousin's heart.

But, while Hilda was looking out of the window, a noble knight passed
that way; and so delighted was he with the rare sweetness of her face,
that he forgot himself, and paused a moment to gaze at her. The
princess blushed, and let fall the silken curtain; but Zora had seen
the knight, and knew he was the royal Prince Reginald. She ground her
teeth in rage; for she had determined that the prince should never see
her beautiful cousin.

"They shall not meet," said she to herself: "no, not if there are bad
fairies enough to prevent it."

But, when the princess looked up, Zora was smiling very sweetly. Who
could have dreamed that she was thinking of nothing but how to ruin
the peace of her gentle cousin?

Zora could hardly wait for nightfall, so eager was she to do her
wicked work. When it was dark, and all was quiet, she stole out of the
castle, wearing a black mantle which hid her face.

"Now," thought she, "no one can recognize me, and I will seek the
fairy Gerula."

You must know that Gerula was one of the most wicked and hideous
sprites that ever existed. She dwelt in a cave far from the abodes of
men. It was hidden by huge trees through which the wind never ceased
howling. At evening owls hooted overhead, and many creeping things
wound their length along the ground. The more toads and snakes she
could see about her, the better was she pleased; for fairies, as well
as morta