Page 133 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

no intention of undertaking this last journey.
As soon as Belle-Etoile had retired to her
room, and the Princes to theirs, Cheri
descended, took his horse out of the stable,
mounted him, and set out without saying a
word to any one. This news threw the
charming family into great consternation. The
King, who could not forget them, sent to beg

they would come and dine with him; they
replied that their brother had just left them,
that they should feel neither happy nor
comfortable without him; and that when he
returned they would not fail to pay their duty
at the palace.
The Princess was inconsolable; the dancing

water and the singing apple had no longer any
charms for her; nothing was amusing to her
while Cheri was absent. The Prince went
wandering through the world, asking every
one he met if they could tell him where he
could find the little green bird that told
everything: the greater number knew nothing
about it, but he met with a venerable old man,
who took him home with him and kindly

examined a globe, the study of which was part
of his profession as well as his amusement. He
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