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“I wish I were as ugly as you and had some sense, rather than be as handsome as I am, and such a fool.”

“Madam,” said Riquet politely, though her speech was not exactly civil, “nothing shows intellect so much as the modesty of believing one does not possess it.”

“I don’t know that; but I know I am a great fool, and it vexes me so, that I wish I was dead,” cried the princess bitterly.

“If that is all, madam, I can easily put an end to your grief, for I have the power of making the person I love best as clever as I please. I will do it, provided you consent to marry me.”

The princess stood dumb with astonishment. She–to marry that little frightful creature–scarcely a man at all!

“I see,” said Riquet, “that my proposal offends and grieves you. Well, I will give you a year to consider it.”

Now the young lady was so stupid that she thought a year’s end was a long way off–so long that it seemed as if it might not come at all, or something might happen between whiles. And she had such a longing to be clever and admired that she thought at all risks she would accept the chance of becoming so. Accordingly, she promised Riquet to marry him that day twelvemonth.

No sooner had she said it than she felt herself quite another being. She found she could at once say anything she chose, and say it in the most graceful and brilliant way. She began a lively conversation with Prince Riquet, and chattered so fast and so wittily, that he began to be afraid he had given her so much cleverness as to leave himself none.

When she returned to the palace, all the court were astonished at the change. She, who had annoyed everybody by the impertinent, tasteless, or downright foolish things she uttered, now charmed everybody by her wit, her pleasantness, and her exceeding good sense. The king himself began to come to her apartment, and ask her advice in state affairs. Her mother, and indeed the whole kingdom, were delighted; the only person to be pitied was the poor younger sister, of whom nobody now took the least notice.

Meantime, princes came in throngs to ask in marriage this wonderful princess, who was as clever as she was beautiful; but she found none to suit her, probably because the more sense a lady has, the more difficult she is to please. As for her promise to Riquet with the Tuft, being given in the days when she was so dull and stupid, it now never once came into her head; until one day, being quite perplexed by her numerous suitors, she went to take a solitary walk and think the matter over, when by chance she came into the same wood where she had met the prince. There, all of a sudden, she thought she heard a queer running about and chattering underground. “Fetch me that spit,” cried one; “Put some more wood on that fire,” said another; and by and by the earth opened, showing a great kitchen filled with cooks, cooking a splendid banquet. They were all working merrily at their several duties, and singing together in the most lively chorus.

“What is all this about?” asked the amazed princess.

“If you please, madam,” replied the head-cook, politely, “we are cooking the wedding-dinner of Prince Riquet with the Tuft, who is to be married to-morrow.”

“To-morrow!” cried the princess, all at once recollecting her promise; at which she was so frightened that she thought she should have fallen to the earth. Greater still was her alarm when, at only a few steps’ distance, she beheld Riquet, dressed splendidly like a prince and a bridegroom.

“You see me, princess, exact to my word; and I doubt not you are the same, come to make me the happiest of mankind.”

“Prince,” said the lady, frankly, “I must confess that such was not my intention, and I fear I shall never be able to do as you desire.”