owards Toupette,
who started back from surprise and horror.

Selnozoura then took the hand of the poor old man, and the genius came
forward and touched him three times with his ring, when Cornichon was
transformed into a handsome young man.

'May you live long,' the genius said, 'to enjoy happiness with your
wife, and to love your father.'

And that was the end of the mischief wrought by the fairy Dindonette!

[_Cabinet des Fees_.]

_LONG, BROAD, AND QUICKEYE_

(BOHEMIAN STORY)

Once upon a time there lived a king who had an only son whom he loved
dearly. Now one day the king sent for his son and said to him:

'My dearest child, my hair is grey and I am old, and soon I shall feel
no more the warmth of the sun, or look upon the trees and flowers. But
before I die I should like to see you with a good wife; therefore marry,
my son, as speedily as possible.'

'My father,' replied the prince, 'now and always, I ask nothing better
than to do your bidding, but I know of no daughter-in-law that I could
give you.'

On hearing these words the old king drew from his pocket a key of gold,
and gave it to his son, saying:

'Go up the staircase, right up to the top of the tower. Look carefully
round you, and then come and tell me which you like best of all that you
see.'

So the young man went up. He had never before been in the tower, and had
no idea what it might contain.

The staircase wound round and round and round, till the prince was
almost giddy, and every now and then he caught sight of a large room
that opened out from the side. But he had been told to go to the top,
and to the top he went. Then he found himself in a hall, which had an
iron door at one end. This door he unlocked with his golden key, and he
passed through into a vast chamber which had a roof of blue sprinkled
with golden stars, and a carpet of green silk soft as turf. Twelve
windows framed in gold let in the light of the sun, and on every window
was painted the figure of a young girl, each more beautiful than the
last. While the prince gazed at them in surprise, not knowing which he
liked best, the girls began to lift their eyes and smile at him. He
waited, expecting them to speak, but no sound came.

Suddenly he noticed that one of the windows was covered by a curtain of
white silk.

He lifted it, and saw before him the image of a maiden beautiful as the
day and sad as the tomb, clothed in a white robe, having a girdle of
s