Page 29 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

said, "Alas! Madam, add not to my affliction
by your reproaches; I could scarcely have had a
greater one befall me. I should have thought
myself too happy if the gods had permitted me
to die before I had known the disgrace of
being mother to these little monsters. The
King will hate me as much as he loved me."
Her voice was stifled with sighs and sobs. She

had not strength to say more, and the Queen-
Mother, continuing to load her with abuses,
had the pleasure of passing three hours at the
head of her bed as she lay in that wretched
condition. At last she left her, and the Queen's
sister, who pretended to sympathise with her
sorrow, told her that she was not the first who

had met with such a misfortune; that it was
clearly a trick of the old Fairy who had
promised to work such wonders for them; but
that as it might be dangerous for her to see the
King, she advised her to go to her poor
mother with her three little brats of puppies.
The Queen answered only with tears, The
heart must have been hard indeed that was not
moved by the state she was reduced to,

suckling those filthy whelps under the
impression that she was their mother.

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