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 . -LRB- 1 -RRB- -LRB- 1 -RRB- La Chatte blanche . Par Madame la Comtesse d'Aulnoy . THE WATER-LILY . THE GOLD-SPINNERS Once upon a time , in a large forest , there lived an old woman and three maidens . They were all three beautiful , but the youngest was the fairest . Their hut was quite hidden by trees , and none saw their beauty but the sun by day , and the moon by night , and the eyes of the stars . The old woman kept the girls hard at work , from morning till night , spinning gold flax into yarn , and when one distaff was empty another was given them , so they had no rest . The thread had to be fine and even , and when done was locked up in a secret chamber by the old woman , who twice or thrice every summer went a journey .
Before she went she gave out work for each day of her absence , and always returned in the XXXXX , so that the girls never saw what she brought back with her , neither would she tell them whence the gold flax came , nor what it was to be used for .
Sire d'Aulnoy day distaff every left mews months night princesses