idered with gold.

The little thing smiled so sweetly at the fairies that they decided to
do all they could for her. They began by naming her Graziella, and then
Placida said: 'You know, dear sisters, that the commonest form of
spite or punishment amongst us consists of changing beauty to ugliness,
cleverness to stupidity, and oftener still to change a person's form
altogether. Now, as we can only each bestow one gift, I think the
best plan will be for one of you to give her beauty, the other good
understanding, whilst I will undertake that she shall never be changed
into any other form.'

The two godmothers quite agreed, and as soon as the little princess had
received their gifts, they went home, and Placida gave herself up to the
child's education. She succeeded so well with it, and little Graziella
grew so lovely, that when she was still quite a child her fame was
spread abroad only too much, and one day Placida was surprised by
a visit from the Fairy Queen, who was attended by a very grave and
severe-looking fairy.

The queen began at once: 'I have been much surprised by your behaviour
to Mutinosa; she had insulted our whole race, and deserved punishment.
You might forgive your own wrongs if you chose, but not those of others.
You treated her very gently whilst she was with you, and I come now to
avenge our wrongs on her daughter. You have ensured her being lovely and
clever, and not subject to change of form, but I shall place her in an
enchanted prison, which she shall never leave till she finds herself
in the arms of a lover whom she herself loves. It will be my care to
prevent anything of the kind happening.'

The enchanted prison was a large high tower in the midst of the sea,
built of shells of all shapes and colours. The lower floor was like a
great bathroom, where the water was let in or off at will. The first
floor contained the princess's apartments, beautifully furnished. On
the second was a library, a large wardrobe-room filled with beautiful
clothes and every kind of linen, a music-room, a pantry with bins
full of the best wines, and a store-room with all manner of preserves,
bonbons, pastry and cakes, all of which remained as fresh as if just out
of the oven.

The top of the tower was laid out like a garden, with beds of the
loveliest flowers, fine fruit trees, and shady arbours and shrubs, where
many birds sang amongst the branches.

The fairies escorted Graziella and her governess, Bonnetta, t