and haste as he repeated the usual
formula: 'I conjure and pray you, Fairy so-and-so'--or 'Enchanter
such-a-one'--'to honour me with a visit, and graciously bestow your
gifts upon my son.'

To make matters worse, word was brought to him that the Fairies asked on
the first page had already arrived and were waiting impatiently in the
Great Hall, and grumbling that nobody was there to receive them.
Thereupon he gave up the list in despair and hurried to greet those whom
he had succeeded in asking, imploring their goodwill so humbly that most
of them were touched, and promised that they would do his son no harm.
But there happened to be among them a Fairy from a far country about
whom they knew nothing, though her name had been written on the first
page of the list. This Fairy was annoyed that after having taken the
trouble to come so quickly, there had been no one to receive her, or
help her to alight from the great ostrich on which she had travelled
from her distant home, and now she began to mutter to herself in the
most alarming way.

'Oh! prate away,' said she, 'your son will never be anything to boast
of. Say what you will, he will be nothing but a Mannikin----'

No doubt she would have gone on longer in this strain, and given the
unhappy little Prince half-a-dozen undesirable gifts, if it had not been
for the good Fairy Genesta, who held the kingdom under her special
protection, and who luckily hurried in just in time to prevent further
mischief. When she had by compliments and entreaties pacified the
unknown Fairy, and persuaded her to say no more, she gave the King a
hint that now was the time to distribute the presents, after which
ceremony they all took their departure, excepting the Fairy Genesta, who
then went to see the Queen, and said to her:

'A nice mess you seem to have made of this business, madam. Why did you
not condescend to consult me? But foolish people like you always think
they can do without help or advice, and I observe that, in spite of all
my goodness to you, you had not even the civility to invite me!'

'Ah! dear madam,' cried the King, throwing himself at her feet; 'did I
ever have time to get as far as your name? See where I put in this mark
when I abandoned the hopeless undertaking which I had but just begun!'

'There! there!' said the Fairy, 'I am not offended. I don't allow myself
to be put out by trifles like that with people I really am fond of. But
now about your son: I have save