g Florina did was to open her little window that the
Blue Bird might fly away. But he would not. He had seen the queen and
Troutina, and though he could not defend his princess, he refused to
leave her. The two rushed upon her like furies. Her wonderful beauty
and her splendid jewels startled them. "Whence came all these
ornaments?" cried they.

"I found them," replied Florina, and refused to answer more.

"Some one has given them to you that you might join in treason
against your father and the kingdom.

"Am I likely to do this? I, a poor princess, kept in captivity for two
years, with you as my gaoler?"

"In captivity," repeated the queen. "Why, then, do you dress yourself
so fine, and adorn your chamber with flowers?"

"I have leisure enough: I may just as well spend some of it in
adorning myself, instead of bemoaning my misfortune--innocent as I
am."

"Innocent, indeed!" cried the queen, and began to search the room. In
it she found all King Charming's presents--diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
amethysts--in short, jewels without end. Meantime, from the window the
Blue Bird, who had the eye of a lynx, sang aloud, "Beware, Florina!"

"You see, madam," said Florina, "even the spirits of the air take pity
upon me."

"I see that you are in league with demons; but your father shall judge
you;" and, very much frightened, the queen left her, and went to hold
counsel with Troutina as to what was to be done. They agreed to put in
Florina's chamber a waiting-maid, who should watch her from morning
till night. When the princess learnt this she was in great grief.

"Alas!" cried she, "I can no longer talk with my bird who loved me so;
and our love was consolation for all our misfortunes. What will he do?
What shall I do?" And she melted into floods of tears.

She dared not open the window, though she heard continually his wings
fluttering round it. For more than a month she waited; but the
serving-maid watched her night and day. At last, overcome with
weariness, the girl fell asleep, and then Florina opened her little
window, and sang in a low voice--

"Blue Bird, Blue Bird,
Come to my side."

The Blue Bird flew to the window-sill, and they lavished on one
another a hundred caresses, and talked together till dawn. Next night
it happened the same, till they began to hope that the waiting-maid,
who seemed to enjoy her sleep so much, would sleep every night to
come. But on the third night, hearing a noise, she w