ks, dear prince. I recognize and am grateful for your courtesy. I
accept you for my partner and hope that you will not have occasion to
blush for your generosity."

And now Rosette and Charmant commenced. A more animated, graceful and
light dance was never seen. All present gazed at them with ever
increasing admiration. Rosette was so superior in dancing to Orangine
and Roussette, that they could scarcely suppress their rage. They wished
to throw themselves upon the young princess, choke her and tear her
diamonds from her. The king and queen, who had been watching them and
divined their intention, stopped them, and whispered in their ears:

"Remember the threats and power of the fairy Puissante! To-morrow shall
be the last day."

When the dance was concluded, the most rapturous applause resounded
throughout the hall and every one entreated Charmant and Rosette to
repeat the dance. As they felt no fatigue they did not wish to seem
disobliging and executed a new dance, more graceful and attractive than
the first.

Orangine and Roussette could no longer control themselves. They were
suffocating with rage, fainted and were carried from the room. They had
become so marked by the passions of envy and rage that they had lost
every vestige of beauty and no one had any sympathy for them, as all had
seen their jealousy and wickedness.

The applause and enthusiasm for Rosette and Charmant were so
overpowering that they sought refuge in the garden. They walked side by
side during the rest of the evening, and talked merrily and happily over
their plans for the future, if the fairy Puissante would permit them to
unite the smooth current of their lives. The diamonds of Rosette
sparkled with such brilliancy that the alleys where they walked and the
little groves where they seated themselves, seemed illuminated by a
thousand stars. At last it was necessary to separate.

[Illustration: _They walked side by side during the rest of the
evening_]

"To-morrow!" said Rosette, "to-morrow I hope to say, _yours eternally_."

Rosette entered her little room. As she undressed, her clothing arranged
itself as the day before in the case. This new case was of carved ivory
and studded with turquoise nails. When Rosette had lain down peacefully
upon her bed she put out the light, and said, in a low voice:

"My dear, good godmother, to-morrow I must give a definite answer to
Prince Charmant. Dictate my response, dear godmother. I will obey you