Page 12 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

enough to marry my Lord Admiral, I venture
to say, that, with my spindle and distaff, I
would spin so much thread, and with that
thread make so much cloth, that he would
never want to purchase any more for the sails
of his vessels." "And I," said Brunette, "if
Fortune were sufficiently favourable to me to
make me the wife of the King's brother; I

venture to say, that, with my needle, I would
make him so much lace that his palace would
be filled with it." "And I," said Blondine, "I
venture to say, that if the King married me, I
would bring him two handsome boys, and a
beautiful girl, whose hair should fall in
ringlets, out of which should come fine jewels,

and each should have a brilliant star on the
forehead, and a rich chain of gold around the
neck."
One of the king's favourites who had preceded
him to inform the mistress of the house of his
majesty's approach, having heard voices in the
garden, stopped and listened, quietly, and was
greatly surprised at the conversation of these
three handsome girls. He went in all haste to

amuse the King by its repetition. The King
laughed at it, and ordered the girls to be
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