r than the other, that
she might not limp so much, and put in a cunningly made glass eye in the
place of the one she had lost. She dyed her red hair black, and painted
her face. Then she put on a gorgeous robe of lilac satin lined with
blue, and a yellow petticoat trimmed with violet ribbons, and because
she had heard that queens always rode into their new dominions, she
ordered a horse to be made ready for her to ride.

While Graciosa was waiting until the King should be ready to set out,
she went down all alone through the garden into a little wood, where she
sat down upon a mossy bank and began to think. And her thoughts were so
doleful that very soon she began to cry, and she cried, and cried, and
forgot all about going back to the palace, until she suddenly saw a
handsome page standing before her. He was dressed in green, and the cap
which he held in his hand was adorned with white plumes. When Graciosa
looked at him he went down on one knee, and said to her:

'Princess, the King awaits you.'

The Princess was surprised, and, if the truth must be told, very much
delighted at the appearance of this charming page, whom she could not
remember to have seen before. Thinking he might belong to the household
of the Duchess, she said:

'How long have you been one of the King's pages?'

'I am not in the service of the King, madam,' answered he, 'but in
yours.'

'In mine?' said the Princess with great surprise. 'Then how is it that I
have never seen you before?'

'Ah, Princess!' said he, 'I have never before dared to present myself to
you, but now the King's marriage threatens you with so many dangers that
I have resolved to tell you at once how much I love you already, and I
trust that in time I may win your regard. I am Prince Percinet, of whose
riches you may have heard, and whose fairy gift will, I hope, be of use
to you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you
under this disguise.'

'Ah, Percinet!' cried the Princess, 'is it really you? I have so often
heard of you and wished to see you. If you will indeed be my friend, I
shall not be afraid of that wicked old Duchess any more.'

So they went back to the palace together, and there Graciosa found a
beautiful horse which Percinet had brought for her to ride. As it was
very spirited he led it by the bridle, and this arrangement enabled him
to turn and look at the Princess often, which he did not fail to do.
Indeed, she was so pretty that