28-prince darling-第3章

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window　was　shut　again；　and　Prince　Darling；　who　had　not

had　anything　to　eat　all　day；　thought　he　might　as　well

take　the　opportunity　of　getting　something。　He　ran

forward　to　begin；　but　the　young　girl　to　whom　he　had

given　his　bread　gave　a　cry　of　terror　and　took　him　up　in

her　arms；　saying：



〃Don't　touch　it；　my　poor　little　dogthat　house　is　the

palace　of　pleasure；　and　everything　that　comes　out　of　it

is　poisoned！〃



At　the　same　moment　a　voice　said：



〃You　see　a　good　action　always　brings　its　reward；〃　and

the　Prince　found　himself　changed　into　a　beautiful　white

dove。　He　remembered　that　white　was　the　favorite

color　of　the　Fairy　Truth；　and　began　to　hope　that　he

might　at　last　win　back　her　favor。　But　just　now　his

first　care　was　for　Celia；　and　rising　into　the　air　he　flew

round　and　round　the　house；　until　he　saw　an　open　window；

but　he　searched　through　every　room　in　vain。　No　trace

of　Celia　was　to　be　seen；　and　the　Prince；　in　despair；

determined　to　search　through　the　world　till　he　found　her。

He　flew　on　and　on　for　several　days；　till　he　came　to　a

great　desert；　where　he　saw　a　cavern；　and；　to　his　delight；

there　sat　Celia；　sharing　the　simple　breakfast　of　an　old

hermit。



Overjoyed　to　have　found　her；　Prince　Darling　perched

upon　her　shoulder；　trying　to　express　by　his　caresses　how

glad　he　was　to　see　her　again；　and　Celia；　surprised　and

delighted　by　the　tameness　of　this　pretty　white　dove；

stroked　it　softly；　and　said；　though　she　never　thought　of

its　understanding　her：



〃I　accept　the　gift　that　you　make　me　of　yourself；　and

I　will　love　you　always。〃



〃Take　care　what　you　are　saying；　Celia；〃　said　the　old

hermit；　〃are　you　prepared　to　keep　that　promise？〃



〃Indeed；　I　hope　so；　my　sweet　shepherdess；〃　cried　the

Prince；　who　was　at　that　moment　restored　to　his　natural

shape。　〃You　promised　to　love　me　always；　tell　me　that

you　really　mean　what　you　said；　or　I　shall　have　to　ask

the　Fairy　to　give　me　back　the　form　of　the　dove　which

pleased　you　so　much。〃



〃You　need　not　be　afraid　that　she　will　change　her

mind；〃　said　the　Fairy；　throwing　off　the　hermit's　robe　in

which　she　had　been　disguised　and　appearing　before　them。



〃Celia　has　loved　you　ever　since　she　first　saw　you；　only

she　would　not　tell　you　while　you　were　so　obstinate　and

naughty。　Now　you　have　repented　and　mean　to　be　good

you　deserve　to　be　happy；　and　so　she　may　love　you　as

much　as　she　likes。〃



Celia　and　Prince　Darling　threw　themselves　at　the

Fairy's　feet；　and　the　Prince　was　never　tired　of　thanking

her　for　her　kindness。　Celia　was　delighted　to　hear　how

sorry　he　was　for　all　his　past　follies　and　misdeeds；　and

promised　to　love　him　as　long　as　she　lived。



〃Rise；　my　children；〃　said　the　Fairy；　〃and　I　will

transport　you　to　the　palace；　and　Prince　Darling　shall　have

back　again　the　crown　he　forfeited　by　his　bad　behavior。〃



While　she　was　speaking；　they　found　themselves　in

Suilman's　hall；　and　his　delight　was　great　at　seeing　his

dear　master　once　more。　He　gave　up　the　throne　joyfully

to　the　Prince；　and　remained　always　the　most　faithful

of　his　subjects。



Celia　and　Prince　Darling　reigned　for　many　years；　but

he　was　so　determined　to　govern　worthily　and　to　do　his

duty　that　his　ring；　which　he　took　to　wearing　again；　never

once　pricked　him　severely。＇1＇





＇1＇　Cabinet　des　Fees。