nted him a daughter of such remarkable
beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate for her as
'Fairer-than-a-Fairy.'

It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name was
certain to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies in a body
on the child, but this was what happened. No sooner had they heard of
this presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her
who bore it, and either to torment her cruelly, or at least to conceal
her from the eyes of all men.

The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge.
This Fairy was named Lagree; she was so old that she only had one eye
and one tooth left, and even these poor remains she had to keep all
night in a strengthening liquid. She was also so spiteful that she
gladly devoted all her time to carrying out all the mean or
ill-natured tricks of the whole body of fairies.

With her large experience, added to her native spite, she found but
little difficulty in carrying off Fairer-than-a-Fairy. The poor child,
who was only seven years old, nearly died of fear on finding herself
in the power of this hideous creature. However, when after an hour's
journey underground she found herself in a splendid palace with lovely
gardens, she felt a little reassured, and was further cheered when she
discovered that her pet cat and dog had followed her.

The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be hers,
at the same time giving her the strictest orders never to let out the
fire which was burning brightly in the grate. She then gave two glass
bottles into the Princess's charge, desiring her to take the greatest
care of them, and having enforced her orders with the most awful
threats in case of disobedience, she vanished, leaving the little girl
at liberty to explore the palace and grounds and a good deal relieved
at having only two apparently easy tasks set her.

Several years passed, during which time the Princess grew accustomed
to her lonely life, obeyed the Fairy's orders, and by degrees forgot
all about the court of the King her father.

[Illustration: Lagree Gives the 2 Bottles to Fairer-than-a-Fairy.]

One day, whilst passing near a fountain in the garden, she noticed
that the sun's rays fell on the water in such a manner as to produce a
brilliant rainbow. She stood still to admire it, when, to her great
surprise, she heard a voice addressing her which seemed to come from
the centre of its rays. The voi