Page 28 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

saying she opened a large purse which she
always carried at her side, and pulled out of it
three blind puppies, which the Queen-Mother
and she swaddled in fine linen, embroidered
with gold, and ornamented with lace, as the
royal children should have been. They placed
them in a covered basket, and then the wicked
old Queen, followed by Roussette, proceeded

to the young Queen's apartment.
"I come to thank you," said the Queen-
Mother, "for the beautiful heirs you have
presented to my son. Here are heads well
formed to wear a crown. I am not surprised
that you promised your husband two sons and
a daughter, with stars on their foreheads,

flowing locks and chains of gold round their
necks. Take them and nurse them yourself, for
you will find no woman who will suckle
puppies."
The poor Queen, who was well-nigh
exhausted with the sufferings she had
undergone, was ready to die with grief when
she saw the three little beasts of dogs, and the
sort of kennel they made of her bed, in which

they lay yelping desperately. She began to
weep bitterly, then clasping her hands, she
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