When they came near the castle where the brothers were to meet, the Princess got into a chair carried by four of the guards; it was hewn out of one splendid crystal, and had silken curtains, which she drew round her that she might not be seen.

The Prince saw his brothers walking upon the terrace, each with a lovely princess, and they came to meet him, asking if he had also found a wife.  He said that he had found something much rarer—­a white cat!  At which they laughed very much, and asked him if he was afraid of being eaten up by mice in the palace.  And then they set out together for the town.  Each prince and princess rode in a splendid carriage; the horses were decked with plumes of feathers, and glittered with gold.  After them came the youngest prince, and last of all the crystal chair, at which everybody looked with admiration and curiosity.  When the courtiers saw them coming they hastened to tell the King.

“Are the ladies beautiful?” he asked anxiously.

And when they answered that nobody had ever before seen such lovely princesses he seemed quite annoyed.

However, he received them graciously, but found it impossible to choose between them.

Then turning to his youngest son he said: 

“Have you come back alone, after all?”

“Your Majesty,” replied the Prince, “will find in that crystal chair a little white cat, which has such soft paws, and mews so prettily, that I am sure you will be charmed with it.”

The King smiled, and went to draw back the curtains himself, but at a touch from the Princess the crystal shivered into a thousand splinters, and there she stood in all her beauty; her fair hair floated over her shoulders and was crowned with flowers, and her softly falling robe was of the purest white.  She saluted the King gracefully, while a murmur of admiration rose from all around.

“Sire,” she said, “I am not come to deprive you of the throne you fill so worthily.  I have already six kingdoms, permit me to bestow one upon you, and upon each of your sons.  I ask nothing but your friendship, and your consent to my marriage with your youngest son; we shall still have three kingdoms left for ourselves.”

The King and all the courtiers could not conceal their joy and astonishment, and the marriage of the three Princes was celebrated at once.  The festivities lasted several months, and then each king and queen departed to their own kingdom and lived happily ever after.[1]

[1] La Chatte blanche.  Par Madame la Comtesse d’Aulnoy.

THE WATER-LILY.  THE GOLD-SPINNERS