ter's
request, and he returned with the princess to the kingdom of the good
king Benin.

The princess Fourbette was accompanied by four thousand mules, loaded
with the jewels and wardrobe of the charming bride.

King Benin had been apprised of their approach by a courier and went
forward to receive the princess Fourbette. He found her beautiful but he
noted the absence of the mild and attractive expression of the poor lost
Doucette.

When Fourbette's eyes fell upon Blondine her glance was so cruel, so
wicked, that the poor child, who was now three years old, was greatly
terrified and began to weep bitterly.

"What is the matter?" said the king. "Why does my sweet and sensible
Blondine weep like a bad little girl?"

"Papa! dear papa!" cried Blondine, throwing herself into the arms of the
king, "do not give me into the hands of this princess. I am afraid of
her--her eyes are cruel!"

The king was much surprised. He turned so suddenly towards the princess
Fourbette that she had no time to control herself and he perceived the
terrible glance with which she regarded the little Blondine.

Benin immediately resolved that Blondine should be wholly separated from
the new queen and remain as before under the exclusive protection of the
nurse who had taken care of her and who loved her tenderly.

The queen thus saw Blondine rarely, and when she met her by chance she
could not wholly dissimulate the hatred she felt for her.

About a year from that time a daughter was born to the queen Fourbette.
She was named Brunette, because of her dark hair which was black as the
raven's wing.

Brunette was pretty but not so lovely as Blondine; moreover she was as
wicked as her mother. She detested Blondine and played all sorts of
cruel tricks upon her, bit her, pinched her, pulled her hair, broke her
toys and tore her beautiful dresses.

The good little Blondine was never in a passion with her sister but
always tried to make excuses for her conduct.

"Oh, papa!" she said to the king, "do not scold Brunette; she is so
little! she does not know that she grieves me when she breaks my toys!
It is only in play that she bites me, pulls my hair and pinches me."

The good king embraced his little daughter, and was silent but he knew
that Brunette was cruel and wicked; that Blondine was too gentle and
good to accuse her. He loved Blondine, therefore, more and more from day
to day and his heart grew cold to Brunette.

The ambitious quee