, long-tailed peacocks, or green love-birds for horses. These
carriages were only used on occasions of state, for when they went to
war flying dragons, fiery serpents, lions or leopards, took the place of
the beautiful birds.

The fairies entered the queen's chamber followed by little dwarfs who
carried their presents and looked much prouder than their mistresses.
One by one their burdens were spread upon the ground, and no one had
ever seen such lovely things. Everything that a baby could possibly wear
or play with was there, and besides, they had other and more precious
gifts to give her, which only children who have fairies for godmothers
can ever hope to possess.

They were all gathered round the heap of pink cushions on which the baby
lay asleep, when a shadow seemed to fall between them and the sun, while
a cold wind blew through the room. Everybody looked up, and there was
the crab-fairy, who had grown as tall as the ceiling in her anger.

'So I am forgotten!' cried she, in a voice so loud that the queen
trembled as she heard it. 'Who was it soothed you in your trouble? Who
was it led you to the fairies? Who was it brought you back in safety
to your home again? Yet I--I--am overlooked, while these who have done
nothing in comparison, are petted and thanked.'

The queen, almost dumb with terror, in vain tried to think of some
explanation or apology; but there was none, and she could only confess
her fault and implore forgiveness. The fairies also did their best to
soften the wrath of their sister, and knowing that, like many plain
people who are not fairies, she was very vain, they entreated her to
drop her crab's disguise, and to become once more the charming person
they were accustomed to see.

For some time the enraged fairy would listen to nothing; but at length
the flatteries began to take effect. The crab's shell fell from her, she
shrank into her usual size, and lost some of her fierce expression.

'Well,' she said, 'I will not cause the princess's death, as I had meant
to do, but at the same time she will have to bear the punishment of
her mother's fault, as many other children have done before her. The
sentence I pass upon her is, that if she is allowed to see one ray of
daylight before her fifteenth birthday she will rue it bitterly, and it
may perhaps cost her her life.' And with these words she vanished by the
window through which she came, while the fairies comforted the weeping
queen and took c