“Here you see me, madam,” said he, “keeping my word, and I have no doubt that you also came here to keep yours, and by giving me your hand to make me the happiest of men.”

“I frankly confess,” replied the Princess, “that I have not yet made up my mind, and I do not think I can ever do as you wish.”

“You surprise me, madam,” said Riquet.

“I can quite believe that,” said the Princess, “and if you were not a good and clever man, I should not know how to act.  But you are well aware that it was when I was stupid I promised to marry you, but now, as you may imagine, I am not so easily pleased.”

“Except for my ugliness,” said Riquet, “have you anything against me?  Do you object to my birth, my character, or my manners?”

“Not at all,” replied the Princess, “I love those things in you.”

“If that is so,” answered Riquet, “I shall indeed be made happy, because you can cause me to become the most delightful of men if only you will desire it.  For know, madam, the same fairy who at my birth gave me the power to impart cleverness to whomsoever I should love, gave you a gift also, that of being able to render beautiful the one to whom you would grant this favour.”

“If that is the case,” exclaimed the Princess, “I desire with all my heart that you might be the most handsome and pleasing Prince in the world.”

No sooner had the Princess uttered these words than her wish was fulfilled, though some say that no change really took place in Riquet, but that the Princess loved him now so much that all his ugliness was seen as beauty by her eyes.

However that may be, she straightway consented to be his bride, and, as the preparations had already been made, the wedding took place the very next day.

[Illustration:  Painted by Jennie Harbour THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS—­“TUFTY RIQUET”]

[Illustration]

THUMBLING

There was once a poor woodman sitting by the fire in his cottage and his wife sat by his side spinning.  “How lonely it is,” said he, “for you and me to sit here by ourselves without any children to play about and amuse us, while other people seem so happy and merry with their children!” “What you say is very true,” said the wife, sighing, and turning her wheel; “how happy should I be if I had but one child! and if it were ever so small, nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb, I should be very happy, and love it dearly.”  Now it came to pass that this good woman’s wish was fulfilled just as she desired; for, some time afterwards, she had a little boy, who was quite healthy and strong, but not much bigger than my thumb.  So they said, “Well, we cannot say we have not got what we wished for, and, little as he is, we will love him dearly;” and they called him Thumbling.