Page 78 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

give you some advice, that you ought to profit
by." "And what is it?" said Belle-Etoile. "If you
will permit me to ascend to your chamber,"
added she, "you shall know." "You can come
up," replied the Princess. The old woman
immediately presented herself with a certain
courtly air that is never lost, when once
acquired.

"My fair child," said Feintise, not losing a
moment, (for she was afraid some one might
come and interrupt her,) "Heaven has made
you very lovely—you are endowed with a
brilliant star on your forehead; and they tell
me many other wonderful things of you; but
you yet want one thing which is essentially

necessary to you; if you have it not, I pity
you."
"And what is it I need?" replied she. "The
dancing water," added our malicious old
woman; "if I had possessed it, you would not
have seen a white hair upon my head, nor a
wrinkle on my face. I should have had the
most beautiful teeth in the world, with the
most charming infantile manner. Alas! I knew

this secret too late, my charms had already
faded; profit by my misfortune, my dear
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