At this juncture the guards , who were in great fear that they would be found out , sent to tell the King that his son was dead , which annoyed him very much . He at once made up his mind that it was entirely the Princess 's fault , and gave orders that she should be imprisoned in the tower in Prince Curlicue 's place . The Princess Cabbage-Stalk was immensely astonished at this unjust proceeding , and sent many messages of remonstrance to King Grumpy , but he was in such a temper that no one dared to deliver them , or to send the letters which the Princess wrote to her father . However , as she did not know this , she lived in hope of soon going back to her own country , and tried to amuse herself as well as she could until the time should come . Every day she walked up and down the long gallery , until she too was attracted and fascinated by the ever-changing pictures in the windows , and recognised herself in one of the figures . ` They seem to have taken a great delight in painting me since I came to this country , ' she said to herself . ` One would think that I and my crutch were put in on purpose to make that slim , charming young shepherdess in the next picture look prettier by contrast . Ah ! how nice it would be to be as pretty as that . ' And then she looked at herself in a mirror , and turned away quickly with tears in her eyes from the doleful sight . All at once she became aware that she was not alone , for behind her stood a tiny old woman in a cap , who was as ugly again as herself and quite as lame . ` Princess , ' she said , ` your regrets are so piteous that I have come to offer you the choice of goodness or beauty . If you wish to be pretty you shall have your way , but you will also be vain , capricious , and frivolous . If you remain as you are now , you shall be wise and amiable and modest . ' ` Alas I madam , ' cried the Princess , ` is it impossible to be at once wise and beautiful ? ' ` No , child , ' answered the old woman , ` only to you it is decreed that you must choose between the two . See , I have brought with me my white and yellow muff . Breathe upon the yellow side and you will become like the pretty shepherdess you so much admire , and you will have won the love of the handsome shepherd whose picture I have already seen you studying with interest . Breathe upon the white side and your looks will not alter , but you will grow better and happier day by day . Now you may choose . '
` Ah well , ' said the XXXXX , ' I suppose one ca n't have everything , and it 's certainly better to be good than pretty . '
Cabbage-Stalk Curlicue Grumpy King Princess day looks shepherdess sight son