Page 142 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

Mother with this good news.
The Princess had no other armour than a
helmet, the vizor of which she scarcely ever
raised, for her beauty was of so delicate and
perfect a description that no one would have
believed (as she wished they should) that she
was a cavalier. It was a very severe winter, and
the country in which the talking bird was,

never, in any season, felt the happy influence
of the sun!
Belle-Etoile was dreadfully cold, but nothing
could deter her progress when she saw a
turtle-dove, scarcely less white or colder than
the snow upon which it lay extended.
Notwithstanding her impatience to arrive at

the rock, she could not leave it thus to die,
and getting off her horse, she took it up,
warmed it with her breath, and then put it
into her bosom: the poor little thing never
moved, Belle-Etoile thought it was dead,
which she was very sorry for; she took it out
again, and looking at it, said, as though it
could understand her, "What shall I do, sweet
dove, to save thy life?" "Belle-Etoile," replied

the bird, "one sweet kiss from your lips, will
complete the charitable work you have
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