ked for mercy, but the queen would not listen, and
only mocked when she said she was protected by the fairies. At last the
poor old thing submitted to be tied up, but when the queen urged her
horse on he never stirred. In vain she spurred him, he seemed turned to
bronze. At the same moment the cord with which the old woman was tied
changed into wreaths of flowers, and she herself into a tall and stately
lady.

Looking disdainfully at the queen, she said, 'Bad woman, unworthy of
your crown; I wished to judge for myself whether all I heard of you was
true. I have now no doubt of it, and you shall see whether the fairies
are to be laughed at.'

So saying the fairy Placida (that was her name) blew a little gold
whistle, and a chariot appeared drawn by six splendid ostriches. In it
was seated the fairy queen, escorted by a dozen other fairies mounted on
dragons.

All having dismounted, Placida told her adventures, and the fairy queen
approved all she had done, and proposed turning Mutinosa into bronze
like her horse.

Placida, however, who was very kind and gentle, begged for a milder
sentence, and at last it was settled that Mutinosa should become her
slave for life unless she should have a child to take her place.

The king was told of his wife's fate and submitted to it, which, as he
could do nothing to help it, was the only course open to him.

The fairies then all dispersed, Placida taking her slave with her, and
on reaching her palace she said: 'You ought by rights to be scullion,
but as you have been delicately brought up the change might be too great
for you. I shall therefore only order you to sweep my rooms carefully,
and to wash and comb my little dog.'

Mutinosa felt there was no use in disobeying, so she did as she was bid
and said nothing.

After some time she gave birth to a most lovely little girl, and when
she was well again the fairy gave her a good lecture on her past life,
made her promise to behave better in future, and sent her back to the
king, her husband.

Placida now gave herself up entirely to the little princess who was left
in her charge. She anxiously thought over which of the fairies she would
invite to be godmothers, so as to secure the best gift, for her adopted
child.

At last she decided on two very kindly and cheerful fairies, and asked
them to the christening feast. Directly it was over the baby was
brought to them in a lovely crystal cradle hung with red silk curtains
embro