Page 125 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

for the anxiety I suffer in consequence of it."
"Anxiety is not so great an evil," replied
Feintise, smiling. "There are sweet and tender
anxieties." "Say no more," added Belle-Etoile;
"I tremble when I think of it." "Truly," said
the old woman, "you are much to be pitied,
for being the loveliest and most intellectual
girl in the world." "I must entreat your

pardon, once for all," replied the Princess. "I
know too well the state my brother's absence
reduced me to." "I must, notwithstanding,
assure you," continued Feintise, "that you still
need the little green bird, which tells
everything: he would inform you of your
birth, of your good and ill fortune; there is

nothing, however secret, that he will not find
out for you; and when the world says, 'Belle-
Etoile possesses the dancing water and the
singing apple,' it will say at the same time, 'but
she has not the little green bird which tells
everything, and without that she might almost
as well have nothing.'"
Having thus said all she intended, she retired.
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